An IoT reader for wireless passive electromagnetic sensors

This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Sensors Technology in Spain 2016.In the last years, many passive electromagnetic sensors have been reported. Some of these sensors are used for measuring harmful substances. Moreover, the response of these sensors is usually obtained with laboratory equipment. This approach highly increases the total cost and complexity of the sensing system. In this work, a novel low-cost and portable Internet-of-Things (IoT) reader for passive wireless electromagnetic sensors is proposed. The reader is used to interrogate the sensors within a short-range wireless link avoiding the direct contact with the substances under test. The IoT functionalities of the reader allows remote sensing from computers and handheld devices. For that purpose, the proposed design is based on four functional layers: the radiating layer, the RF interface, the IoT mini-computer and the power unit. In this paper a demonstrator of the proposed reader is designed and manufactured. The demonstrator shows, through the remote measurement of different substances, that the proposed system can estimate the dielectric permittivity. It has been demonstrated that a linear approximation with a small error can be extracted from the reader measurements. It is remarkable that the proposed reader can be used with other type of electromagnetic sensors, which transduce the magnitude variations in the frequency domain

Systematic Approach for Web Protection Runtime Tools’ Effectiveness Analysis

Web applications represent one of the principal vehicles by which attackers gain access to an organization’s network or resources. Thus, different approaches to protect web applications have been proposed to date. Of them, the two major approaches are Web Application Firewalls (WAF) and Runtime Application Self Protection (RASP). It is, thus, essential to understand the differences and relative effectiveness of both these approaches for effective decision-making regarding the security of web applications. Here we present a comparative study between WAF and RASP simulated settings, with the aim to compare their effectiveness and efficiency against different categories of attacks. For this, we used computation of different metrics and sorted their results using F-Score index. We found that RASP tools scored better than WAF tools. In this study, we also developed a new experimental methodology for the objective evaluation of web protection tools since, to the best of our knowledge, no method specifically evaluates web protection tools

Estudio y Estrategias de diseño para amplificadores de doble banda de alto rendimiento. Estructuras con líneas CRLH y ECRLH.

In this paper two methods to design dual band and high efficiency power amplifiers using Composite Right/Left Hand (CRLH) and Extended Composite Right/Left Hand (ECRLH) transmission lines are described. The CRLH and ECRLH transmission lines, design procedure and design equations are presented. As example of application the design of an CE class amplifier appears. The non-linear phase response of a CRLH and ECRLH transmission line has been utilized to design arbitrary dual-band amplifiers. The simulations results are presented at the end of the paper, demonstrating the validity of the use of this type of lines in the design of amplifiers

Amplificadores clase CE de doble banda con estructuras basadas en líneas CRLH y ECRLH.

In this paper the use of Composite Right/Left Hand (CRLH) and Extended Composite Right/Left Hand (ECRLH) transmission lines in dual band power amplifiers is proposed. The CE class power amplifier presents advantages over conventional amplifier such as larger efficiency and low bias supply and what it is more, the fact that it is the fundamental class in bipolar transistor. The design procedure and the design equations are presented. The non-linear phase response of a CRLH and ECRLH transmission line has been utilized to design arbitrary dual-band amplifiers. A design in dual-band CE class power amplifier illustrates the synthesis procedure

A new multi-label dataset for Web attacks CAPEC classification using machine learning techniques

Context: There are many datasets for training and evaluating models to detect web attacks, labeling each request as normal or attack. Web attack protection tools must provide additional information on the type of attack detected, in a clear and simple way. Objectives: This paper presents a new multi-label dataset for classifying web attacks based on CAPEC classification, a new way of features extraction based on ASCII values, and the evaluation of several combinations of models and algorithms. Methods: Using a new way to extract features by computing the average of the sum of the ASCII values of each of the characters in each field that compose a web request, several combinations of algorithms (LightGBM and CatBoost) and multi-label classification models are evaluated, to provide a complete CAPEC classification of the web attacks that a system is suffering. The training and test data used for training and evaluating the models come from the new SR-BH 2020 multi-label dataset. Results: Calculating the average of the sum of the ASCII values of the different characters that make up a web request shows its usefulness for numeric encoding and feature extraction. The new SR-BH 2020 multi-label dataset allows the training and evaluation of multi-label classification models, also allowing the CAPEC classification of the various attacks that a web system is undergoing. The combination of the two-phase model with the MultiOutputClassifier module of the scikit-learn library, together with the CatBoost algorithm shows its superiority in classifying attacks in the different criticality scenarios. Conclusion: Experimental results indicate that the combination of machine learning algorithms and multi-phase models leads to improved prediction of web attacks. Also, the use of a multi-label dataset is suitable for training learning models that provide information about the type of attack. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aplicación de técnicas de Ingeniería Lingüística en sistemas de e-learning basados en objetos de aprendizaje

II Simposio Pluridisciplinar sobre Diseño, Evaluación y Descripción de Contenidos Educativos Reutilizables (SPDECE), Barcelona, España., , 19/10/2005-21/10/2005, Barcelona, EspañaSe presentan tres posibles formas de aplicar técnicas derivadas del tratamiento de la información textual al ámbito de los sistemas de e-learning basados en objetos de aprendizaje (learning objects) reutilizables: la generación automática de metadatos (LOM. IMS-MD, SCORM, Dublín Core) a partir de recursos didácticos, la generación automática de cuestionarios de evaluación (IMS-QTI), y la construcción de buscadores lingüísticos de objetos didácticos en repositorios normalizados (IMS-DRI) y en repositorios semánticos basados en ontologías.Ministerio de Industri

Games-Based Learning Framework

This work presents the authors’ experience in the field of mobile technologies, from which several initiatives have emerged. As result of this, a games-based framework for learning has been developed in these last years. This framework is composed by a competition called Mobigame, which has as main aim to stimulate the participation of the students. By participating in this competition participants learn to develop for mobile devices. A game to practice Japanese is also presented in this article, which was presented in the above mentioned competition. This game has been developed for mobile phones or PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) based on the JME (Java Mobile Edition) technology. Finally, another initiative is also presented: A free download platform of digital contents for mobile devices based on info-educational games

Social gamification in education: a gamified platform based on the Elgg framework

Education, MOOCs and gamification are growing together over the recent years to help students to get better academic results. A literature review was performed to detect the main gamification elements used in current educational field. Therefore, we have modified the well-known Elgg social platform to add some gamification elements to the system. These elements were points, achievements, leaderboards and rewards. For the future, we are planning experiments with students to verify the effectiveness of these elements for engaging students

Nutritional assessment and support in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian cancer with cytoreductive surgery

Introduction: The multidisciplinary treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis, also known as Sugarbaker´s procedure, aims to eradicate microscopic residual tumor after surgery. This technique is highly complex and it´s associated with high mortality and morbidity, so the patient selection is relevant. There is a direct relationship between nutritional status, quality of life, survival and ability to tolerate treatment. It is therefore important to assess nutritional status prior to detect if there is risk or malnutrition. Objectives: The main objective is to evaluate the results of the nutritional assessment after all patients operated by Sugarbaker´s procedure. Secondary objectives are to know the parenteral nutrition composition formula most commonly used and to compare the results of those patients with a historical cohort to which the previous nutritional assessment wasn´t performed.. Methods: Prospective study where all adult patients who were undergoing Sugarbaker procedure and who underwent previous nutritional assessment were included. Postoperative clinical and patient follow-up data were compared with a historical cohort of patients undergoing the same procedure (which will not be made prior nutritional assessment). For the diagnosis of malnutrition were used anthropometric and laboratory parameters. Study parameters were: age, albumin prior to the intervention, peritoneal carcinomatosis index, quimiotherapy administration and tumor staging. In the postoperative follow-up, the study parameters were: days in intensive care unit, hospitalization days, total days of hospitalization and postoperative complications. Results: A total of 32 patients were included: twenty patients without nutritional assessment and twelve patients with previous nutritional assessment with a mean age of 59 ± 14 years. No statistically significant differences are observed between groups in peritoneal carcinomatosis index, tumor stage, chemotherapy and albumin before the intervention. A total of 30 patients were required parenteral nutrition. The average composition formula of parenteral nutrition was 1.2 ± 0.1 g proteins per kg body weight and per day, 2.8 ± 0.4 g of carbohydrates per kg body weight and per day and 1 ± 0.1 g of lipid per kg body weight and per day. Of the twelve previous nutritional assessment conducted in nine of them some form of malnutrition was observed. In the parameters evaluated during follow-up of patients, no statistically significant differences were found, although was observed a trend to a shorter in the intensive care unit stay and fewer complications in patients who have undergone nutritional assessment. Discussion: It should be noted that body mass index and the percentage weight loss in these patients is not representative of the observed malnutrition. The high needs of parenteral nutrition in this study may be due the complications of gastrointestinal resection. Possibly no differences are observed in study parameters due to sample size, but if there is a tendency to increase the stay and complications as shown in the literature. Nutritional intervention provides energy and protein needed to reduce the loss of weight and muscle mass from the pathological process of cancer and surgery. Conclusions: The results of the previous nutritional assessment indicate that malnutrition is a pathology that has high prevalence in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian origin. A trend that improve nutritional status will increase the quality of life by reducing these parameters is observed. The macronutrient composition of parenteral nutrition is similar to nutritional requirement in critically ill patients. We believe that the selection of patients who are going to undergo a Sugarbaker procedure should include assessment of prior nutritional status.Introducción: El tratamiento multidisciplinar de la carcinomatosis peritoneal, también conocido como procedimiento Sugarbaker, pretende erradicar el tumor microscópico residual a la cirugía. Esta técnica de alta complejidad está asociada a morbilidad y mortalidad elevada por lo que es relevante la selección de los pacientes. Existe una relación directa entre el estado nutricional, la calidad de vida, la supervivencia y la capacidad de tolerancia al tratamiento. Por tanto, es importante evaluar previamente el estado nutricional para detectar si existe riesgo de malnutrición. Objetivos: El objetivo principal es evaluar los resultados de la valoración nutricional completa previa a to das las pacientes intervenidas por el procedimiento Sugarbaker. Los objetivos secundarios son: conocer las composición promedio de la fórmula de nutrición parenteral más utilizada y comparar los resultados obtenidos de dichas pacientes con una cohorte histórica a la que no se realizó la valoración nutricional previa. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo donde se incluyeron todas las pacientes adultas que se iban a someter al procedimiento Sugarbaker a las que se les realizó la valoración nutricional previa. Se compararon los datos clínicos del seguimiento postoperatorio de las pacientes con una cohorte histórica retrospectiva de pa cientes sometidas al mismo procedimiento (a las que no se les realizó la valoración nutricional previa). Los parámetros que se utilizaron para el diagnóstico de malnutrición fueron antropométricos y analíticos. Los parámetros de estudio fueron los siguientes: edad, albúmina previa a la intervención, índice de carcinomatosis peritoneal, la administración o no de quimioterapia previa a la intervención y el estadiaje del tumor. En el seguimiento postoperatorio se establecieron como parámetros a valorar: días en unidad de cuidados intensivos, días en planta, días totales de hospitalización y complicaciones postoperatorias. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 32 pacientes: veinte pacientes sin valoración nutricional previa y doce pacientes con valoración nutricional previa con una edad media de 58,9±14 años. No se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos en índice de carcinomatosis peritoneal, estadio tumoral, quimioterapia previa a la intervención y albúmina previa a la intervención. Requirieron nutrición parenteral 30 pacientes durante el postoperatorio. La composición media de la fórmula de nutrición parenteral fue 1,2±0,1 g de proteína por kg peso y día, 2,8±0,4g de hidratos de carbono por kg peso y día y 1±0,1g de lípidos por kg peso y día. De las doce valoraciones nutricionales previas realizadas, en nueve de ellas se observó algún tipo de desnutrición. En los parámetros evaluados durante el seguimiento de las pacientes no se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, aunque se observó una tendencia a una menor estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos y un menor número de complicaciones en las pacientes a las que se les ha realizado valoración nutricional previa. Discusión: Se observa que el índice de masa corporal y el porcentaje de pérdida de peso en estas pacientes no es representativo de la desnutrición que presentan. Las necesidades elevadas de nutrición parenteral en este estudio pueden ser debidas las complicaciones derivadas de la resección gastrointestinal. Posiblemente no se observen diferencias en los parámetros de estudio debido al tamaño muestral del mismo, pero si existe una tendencia a disminuir la estancia y complicaciones como muestra la bibliografía. La intervención nutricional aporta la energía y proteínas necesarias para disminuir la pérdida de peso y de masa muscular derivada del proceso patológico del cáncer y la cirugía. Conclusiones: Los resultados de la valoración nutricional previa indican que la desnutrición es una patología que tiene elevada prevalencia en las pacientes con carcinomatosis peritoneal de origen ovárico. Se observa una tendencia de que la mejora del estado nutricional aumentará la calidad de vida reduciendo estos parámetros. La composición en macronutrientes de la nutrición parenteral es similar a los requierimientos nutricionales en un paciente crítico. Consideramos que la selección de pacientes que van a ser sometidos a un procedimiento Sugarbaker debe incluir la evaluación del estado nutricional previo

Factors related to the development of high antibody titres against SARS-CoV-2 in convalescent plasma donors from the ConPlas-19 trial

Background and objectives: The efficacy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CP) associates with high titres of antibodies. ConPlas-19 clinical trial showed that CP reduces the risk of progression to severe COVID-19 at 28 days. Here, we aim to study ConPlas-19 donors and characteristics that associate with high anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. Materials and methods: Four-hundred donors were enrolled in ConPlas-19. The presence and titres of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were evaluated by EUROIMMUN anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG ELISA. Results: A majority of 80.3% of ConPlas-19 donor candidates had positive EUROIMMUN test results (ratio ≥1.1), and of these, 51.4% had high antibody titres (ratio ≥3.5). Antibody levels decline over time, but nevertheless, out of 37 donors tested for an intended second CP donation, over 90% were still EUROIMMUN positive, and nearly 75% of those with high titres maintained high titres in the second sample. Donors with a greater probability of developing high titres of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies include those older than 40 years of age (RR 2.06; 95% CI 1.24-3.42), with more than 7 days of COVID-19 symptoms (RR 1.89; 95% CI 1.05-3.43) and collected within 4 months from infection (RR 2.61; 95% CI 1.16-5.90). Male donors had a trend towards higher titres compared with women (RR 1.67; 95% CI 0.91-3.06). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 CP candidate donors' age, duration of COVID-19 symptoms and time from infection to donation associate with the collection of CP with high antibody levels. Beyond COVID-19, these data are relevant to inform decisions to optimize the CP donor selection process in potential future outbreaks.European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); Government of Spain, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Number: COV20/00072; SCReN (Spanish Clinical Research Network), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Number: PT17/0017/0009S