A Test Environment for Wireless Hacking in Domestic IoT Scenarios

Security is gaining importance in the daily life of every citizen. The advent of Internet of Things devices in our lives is changing our conception of being connected through a single device to a multiple connection in which the centre of connection is becoming the devices themselves. This conveys the attack vector for a potential attacker is exponentially increased. This paper presents how the concatenation of several attacks on communication protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth LE, GPS, 433 Mhz and NFC) can lead to undesired situations in a domestic environment. A comprehensive analysis of the protocols with the identification of their weaknesses is provided. Some relevant aspects of the whole attacking procedure have been presented to provide some relevant tips and countermeasures.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the SecureEDGE project (PID2019-110565RB-I00), and by the by the Andalusian FEDER 2014-2020 Program through the SAVE project (PY18-3724). // Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. // Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBU

Cardiotrophin-1 plasma levels are associated with the severity of hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

AIMS: Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a cytokine that induces hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes and is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether plasma CT-1 is associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was performed in 124 patients with HCM. All patients underwent a full clinical evaluation and an echocardiogram. Left ventricular hypertrophy was evaluated by the measurement of the maximal LV wall thickness and the Spirito's LVH score. Plasma CT-1 was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Compared with controls, patients with HCM exhibited higher (P /=30 mm) than in patients with mild or moderate LVH (maximal LV wall thickness <30 mm). CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that plasma CT-1 is associated with the severity of LVH in patients with HCM. Further studies are required to ascertain whether CT-1 is a diagnostic biomarker of this cardiomyopathy

Contingency management effects on delay discounting among patients receiving smoking cessation treatment

Antecedentes: la evidencia sugiere que el descuento por demora puede cambiar tras recibir intervenciones eficaces. No obstante, estudios previos que evaluaron el efecto del manejo de contingencias (MC) sobre el descuento por demora son escasos y presentan resultados mixtos. Se evaluó si el MC combinado con tratamiento cognitivo-conductual (TCC) para dejar de fumar se asoció con cambios en el descuento por demora al final del tratamiento y a los seis de seguimiento comparado con TCC. Método: Ciento dieciséis fumadores fueron asignados aleatoriamente a MC+TCC (n = 69) o a TCC solo (n = 47). Completaron la tarea de descuento por demora en la línea base, al final del tratamiento y a los seis meses de seguimiento. Evaluamos el efecto del MC en el descuento por demora con métodos paramétricos y no paramétricos. Resultados: Los análisis entre-grupos mostraron que ninguno de los tratamientos modificó el descuento por demora al final del tratamiento y a los seis meses de seguimiento. No obstante, algunos análisis intra-grupos mostraron que la condición de MC + TCC evidenció cierta reducción. Conclusiones: una intervención de MC no se asocia robustamente con cambios en el descuento por demora. Futuros estudios han de abordar qué tratamientos pueden modificarlo

Negative screening of Fabry disease in patients with conduction disorders requiring a pacemaker.

Identification of Fabry disease (FD) in cardiac patients has been restricted so far to patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Conduction problems are frequent in FD and could precede other manifestations, offering a possible earlier diagnosis. We studied the prevalence of FD in 188 patients < 70 years with conduction problems requiring pacemaker implantation. Although classical manifestations of FD were not rare, no patient with FD was identified. Screening efforts should not be conducted in this population.post-print523 K

Direct oral anticoagulants in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.

Background: Chronic anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is recommended in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Direct oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are an alternative to VKAs but there are limited data to support their use in HCM. We sought to describe the pattern of use, thromboembolic events, bleeding and quality of life in patients with HCM and AF treated with NOACs. Methods: Data from patients treated with NOACs (n=99) and VKA (n=433) at 9 inherited cardiac diseases units were retrospectively collected. Annual rates of embolic events, serious bleeding and death were analysed and compared. Quality of life and treatment satisfaction were evaluated with SF-36 and SAFUCA questionnaires in 80 NOAC-treated and 57 VKA-treated patients. Results: After median follow-up of 63 months (IQR:26–109), thromboembolic events (TIA/stroke and peripheral embolism) occurred in 10% of patients on oral anticoagulation. Major/clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 3.8% and the global mortality rate was 23.3%. Thromboembolic event rate was 0.62 per 100 patient-years in the NOAC group vs. 1.59 in the VKA group [subhazard ratio (SHR) 0.32;95%CI:0.04– 2.45;p=0.27]. Major/clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 0.62 per 100 person-years in the NOAC group vs. 0.60 in the VKA group (SHR 1.28;95%CI 0.18–9.30;p=0.85). Quality of life scores were similar in both groups; however, NOAC-treated patients achieved higher scores in the SAFUCA. Conclusions: HCM patients with AF on NOACs showed similar embolic and bleeding rates to those on VKA. Although quality of life was similar in both groups, the NOAC group reported higher treatment satisfaction.pre-print929 K

Safety of the fermentation product of Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 458 (Amaferm®) as a feed additive for dairy cows (Biozyme Inc.)

[EN] Amaferm® is a fermentation product produced by Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 458, containing alpha-amylase and cellulase enzyme activities, authorised for use as a feed additive for dairy cows. In 2016, the applicant requested for the renewal of the authorisation and the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) issued an opinion at that regard in 2020. In that opinion, the Panel could not confirm the previously drawn conclusions (EFSA, 2006) regarding the safety of the production strain, and consequently could not confirm the safety of the additive for the target species and consumers. In the current submission, the applicant provided supplementary information that allowed the Panel to conclude on the identity of the production strain, redefine the specifications of the additive, and finally to conclude on its safety. Therefore, the new data provided permit to conclude that Amaferm® complies with the conditions of the authorisation. However, the Panel noted that there is the need to change the specification and description of the cellulase and amylase units in the authorisation act. The data provided in the previous (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2020) and the current assessments support that Amaferm® remains safe under the approved conditions for target species, consumers and the environment. The additive is non-irritant to skin and eyes, or a dermal sensitiser but should be considered a potential respiratory sensitiser.SIThe Panel wishes to thank the following for the support provided to this scientific output (in alphabetical order of the last name): Working Group on Animal Nutrition and Working Group on Microbiology, Rosella Brozzi, Christina Cuomo and Jordi Tarres Call

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Bacillus velezensis PTA‐6507, B. velezensis NRRL B‐50013 and B. velezensis NRRL B‐50104 (Enviva® PRO 202 GT) for turkeys for fattening (Danisco Animal Nutrition)

[EN]Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the additive consisting of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PTA-6507, B. amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50013 and B. amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50104 (trade name: Enviva® PRO 202 GT) for turkeys for fattening. The product under assessment is based on viable spores of three strains originally identified as B. amyloliquefaciens which, in the course of the current assessment, were reclassified as Bacillus velezensis. The bacterial species B. velezensis is considered suitable for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to safety assessment. The identity of the active agents was established. The active agents do not harbour acquired antimicrobial resistance genes and lack toxigenic potential and the capacity to produce aminoglycosides. Following the QPS approach, the three bacterial strains are presumed safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. Since no concerns are expected from the other components of the additive, Enviva® PRO 202 GT is also considered safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. Enviva® PRO 202 GT is non-irritant to skin and eyes and is not a dermal sensitiser. Due to the proteinaceous nature of the active agents, the additive should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. In a previous opinion, it was concluded that Enviva® PRO 202 GT has a potential to be efficacious as a zootechnical additive in chickens for fattening at the recommended level of 7.5 × 107 CFU/kg complete feed. It is considered that conclusions on efficacy of Enviva® PRO 202 GT in chickens for fattening can be extrapolated to turkeys for fattening. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that Enviva® PRO 202 GT has the potential to be efficacious in turkeys for fattening at 7.5 × 107 CFU/kg complete feed.S

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of lactic acid produced by Weizmannia coagulans (synonym Bacillus coagulans) DSM 32789 for all animal species except for fish (Jungbunzlauer SA)

©2022EuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority.EFSAJournalpublishedbyWiley-VCHGmbHonbehalfofEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority.[EN] Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of lactic acid produced by a non-genetically modified strain of Weizmannia coagulans (synonym of Bacillus coagulans) (DSM 32789) for all animal species except for fish. The production strain qualifies for the QPS approach for safety assessment. Although uncertainty remains concerning the possible presence of viable cells and/or spores of the production strain in the final product, this does not raise safety concerns for the target species, humans and the environment. The lactic acid is safe at 50,000 mg/kg complete feed for functional ruminants and pigs and at 20,000 mg/kg feed for all the other animal species and categories except for pre-ruminants for which a safe level cannot be established. The corresponding safe levels in water for drinking would be 15,000 mg/L water for pigs and 8,000 mg/L for other non-ruminant species. Although no safe concentration of lactic acid in water for drinking for ruminants can be derived, the Panel considers that the use in water for drinking is safe in ruminants when the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. The use of the additive under assessment in animal nutrition is considered safe for the consumers and for the environment. It is considered corrosive to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Lactic acid is used in food as a preservative. It is reasonable to expect that the effect seen in food will be observed in feed when it is used at comparable concentrations and conditions. However, the FEEDAP Panel has reservations about its effectiveness as a preservative in complete feed with a moisture content of ≤ 12%.SIThe Panel wishes to acknowledge the contribution to this opinion of Martina Reitano, Joana Revez, the experts of the Microbiology and of the Animal Nutrition Working Groups of the FEEDAP Panel