A Security Pattern for Cloud service certification

Cloud computing is interesting from the economic, operational and even energy consumption perspectives but it still raises concerns regarding the security, privacy, governance and compliance of the data and software services offered through it. However, the task of verifying security properties in services running on cloud is not trivial. We notice the provision and security of a cloud service is sensitive. Because of the potential interference between the features and behavior of all the inter-dependent services in all layers of the cloud stack (as well as dynamic changes in them). Besides current cloud models do not include support for trust-focused communication between layers. We present a mechanism to implement cloud service certification process based on the usage of Trusted Computing technology, by means of its Trusted Computing Platform (TPM) implementation of its architecture. Among many security security features it is a tamper proof resistance built in device and provides a root of trust to affix our certification mechanism. We present as a security pattern the approach for service certification based on the use TPM.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Software tools for conducting bibliometric analysis in science: An up-to-date review

Bibliometrics has become an essential tool for assessing and analyzing the output of scientists, cooperation between universities, the effect of state-owned science funding on national research and development performance and educational efficiency, among other applications. Therefore, professionals and scientists need a range of theoretical and practical tools to measure experimental data. This review aims to provide an up-to-date review of the various tools available for conducting bibliometric and scientometric analyses, including the sources of data acquisition, performance analysis and visualization tools. The included tools were divided into three categories: general bibliometric and performance analysis, science mapping analysis, and libraries; a description of all of them is provided. A comparative analysis of the database sources support, pre-processing capabilities, analysis and visualization options were also provided in order to facilitate its understanding. Although there are numerous bibliometric databases to obtain data for bibliometric and scientometric analysis, they have been developed for a different purpose. The number of exportable records is between 500 and 50,000 and the coverage of the different science fields is unequal in each database. Concerning the analyzed tools, Bibliometrix contains the more extensive set of techniques and suitable for practitioners through Biblioshiny. VOSviewer has a fantastic visualization and is capable of loading and exporting information from many sources. SciMAT is the tool with a powerful pre-processing and export capability. In views of the variability of features, the users need to decide the desired analysis output and chose the option that better fits into their aims

Exploration of ceramic clays in the countryside of Córdoba (Spain)

El presente trabajo trata de la exploración de arcillas con baja proporción de calcita, en el sur de la provincia de Córdoba, para suministrar materias primas a la fabricación de bloques y productos cerámicos. Para la caracterización del subsuelo se han planificado tres zonas de trabajo de 4 km² cada una, en las que se han aplicado métodos geofísicos basados en perfiles de Tomografía Eléctrica y Sondeos Eléctricos Verticales (SEV). En muestras de cada zona se han realizado análisis mineralógicos de difracción de rayos-X (DRX), análisis químico por energías dispersivas de rayos-X (EDAX), ensayos de plasticidad, corte directo, compactación, hinchamiento y capacidad portante, molienda, secado y cocción. Se ha conseguido descubrir, en estas zonas, las áreas de interés para la explotación de materias primas, y con los resultados de esta prospección pueden estudiarse nuevos yacimientos de arcilla cerámica.This paper deals with some aspects of the mining prospection of clays in the South of Córdoba (Spain). That studied clays are used as raw materials in a processing plant of ceramic products. In this ground characterisation for future mining operations, low proportion of carbonated materials was searched. To carry out the study, three seek areas were defined, each one of them of about 4 Km2, where two geophysical methods were applied (Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Vertical Electrical Sounding). X-ray diffraction, EDAX, direct cut, compaction, swelling and bearing capacity tests, among others, were carried out in samples picked up in each seek area. Using the information provided by all these tests the most interesting areas for the exploitation defined. These studies resulted in the selection of new interesting deposits for the clay industry

Slow and steady wins the race: Diversification rate is independent from body size and lifestyle in Malagasy skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Scincinae)

Research data are available on the Mendeley Data platform (https://doi.org/10.17632/xfx2yhw949.2), which include datasets, input files and R scripts of the analyses.Appendix A. Supplementary material Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi. org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107635Most of the unique and diverse vertebrate fauna that inhabits Madagascar derives from in situ diversification from colonisers that reached this continental island through overseas dispersal. The endemic Malagasy Scincinae lizards are amongst the most species-rich squamate groups on the island. They colonised all bioclimatic zones and display many ecomorphological adaptations to a fossorial (burrowing) lifestyle. Here we propose a new phylogenetic hypothesis for their diversification based on the largest taxon sampling so far compiled for this group. We estimated divergence times and investigated several aspects of their diversification (diversification rate, body size and fossorial lifestyle evolution, and biogeography). We found that diversification rate was constant throughout most of the evolutionary history of the group, but decreased over the last 6–4 million years and independently from body size and fossorial lifestyle evolution. Fossoriality has evolved from fully quadrupedal ancestors at least five times independently, which demonstrates that even complex morphological syndromes – in this case involving traits such as limb regression, body elongation, modification of cephalic scalation, depigmentation, and eyes and ear-opening regression – can evolve repeatedly and independently given enough time and eco-evolutionary advantages. Initial diversification of the group likely occurred in forests, and the divergence of sand-swimmer genera around 20 Ma appears linked to a period of aridification. Our results show that the large phenotypic variability of Malagasy Scincinae has not influenced diversification rate and that their rich species diversity results from a constant accumulation of lineages through time. By compiling large geographic and trait-related datasets together with the computation of a new time tree for the group, our study contributes important insights on the diversification of Malagasy vertebrates.Portuguese National Funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) supported this work with the projects UIDP/50027/2020 and PTDC/BIA-EVL/31254/2017Contract grant to AC [2020.00823.CEECIND/CP1601/CT0003PD/BD/128493/2017SFRH/BD/102495/2014SFRH/BPD/111015/2015Agencia Española de Investigación, with a Juan de la Cierva-Formación grant [FCI2019-039443-I/AEI/10.13039/501100011033]Swedish Research Council [2019-05191]Swiss National Science Foundation [PCEFP3_187012]Swedish Research Council [VR: 2019-04739

Identification of HIR, EDS1 and PAD4 Genes Reveals Differences between Coffea Species That May Impact Disease Resistance

This research was co-funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and FEDER funds through PORNorte under the project CoffeeRES ref. PTDC/ASP-PLA/29779/2017, and by FCT UNIT LEAF (UID/AGR/04129/2020).The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/agronomy13040992/s1Coffee, a widely consumed important agricultural product, is mainly produced from two species, Coffea arabica (Arabica coffee) and C. canephora (Robusta coffee). Timor Hybrid (HDT) is a population resulting from a natural cross between C. arabica and C. canephora. HDT derivatives have a high spectrum of resistance to different races of Hemileia vastatrix (Hv), the causal agent of coffee leaf rust. A RNAseq database, obtained from HDT832/2 leaves inoculated with Hv (Host Resistance) and Uromyces vignae (Uv, Nonhost Resistance), showed the presence of genes implicated in the hypersensitive response and salicylic acid pathway. Hypersensitive Induced Reaction (HIR) gene family, Enhanced Disease Susceptibility1 gene (EDS1), and Phytoalexin Deficient 4 (PAD4) gene are involved in host and nonhost resistance. Relative expression calculated by RT-qPCR was used to confirm and expand the transcriptome analysis. HDTHIR4, HDTEDS1, and HDTPAD4 showed the highest upregulation in response to Hv and Uv inoculation, confirming a similar trend in host and nonhost resistance in HDT. HIR and EDS1/PAD4 gene families were characterized for the first time in the three available Coffea genomes. HIR genes were quite conserved between Coffea species. Surprisingly, EDS1 and PAD4 genes revealed major differences in gene structure. The PAD4 predicted protein from C. arabica does not include both conserved domains of the EDS1/PAD4 family, and the EDS1 putative protein from C. canephora includes a formin domain unusual in the same protein family. The variability shown by EDS1/PAD4 gene family may impact the disease resistance response of Coffea species, which can be surveyed for the gene sequences that will produce a more resistant phenotype.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)FEDER PTDC/ASP-PLA/29779/2017FCT UNIT LEAF (UID/AGR/04129/2020

Three embryonic cell lineages related with the epicardium show distinct developmental fates

The embryonic epicardium generates a population of mesenchymal cells that contribute to the coronary vessels and the connective tissue of the adult heart. We have used murine cell-tracing models to compare the developmental fate of three different lineages related with the epicardium. Mice bearing R26R-EYFP reporters were crossed with mice expressing Cre-recombinase under control of the promoters of the cardiac troponin gene (cTnT), the Wilms tumor suppressor gene (Wt1), and the G2 enhancer of the GATA4 gene. Thus, we could trace, using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, the lineage of the cardiac cells expressing Wt1, cTnT and GATA4 under control of the G2 enhancer, from midgestation to adults. Additionally we have studied a knockin Wt1-GFP reporter model to detect cells with Wt1 expression in the developing and adult heart. During development, Wt1 is expressed in a major part of the proepicardium and epicardium, and also in some epicardial-derived mesenchymal cells, in part of the mesenchymal and coronary endothelial cells and also in a fraction of the cardiomyocytes. GATA4 expression is activated by the enhancer G2 in lateral mesoderm and pro/epicardium, but not in epicardial-derived cells, although most of these cells as well as some cardiomyocytes originate from a G2-GATA4 expressing lineage. cTnT is expressed in all the cardiomyocytes, but a part of the epicardial cells also derives from a cTnTCre-EYFP positive cell lineage. The developmental fate of these linages reveals interesting differences, according to our preliminary results. For example, the G2-GATA4 cell linage contributes more than the Wt1 cell lineage to the coronary endothelium during development. However, both lineages are highly represented in the adult cardiac endothelium, suggesting postnatal expression of Wt1 in the coronary endothelium and incorporation of endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow (where the G2-GATA4 reporter is active in 20% of hematopoietic stem cells).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Desarrollo de un entorno interactivo para asistir en el proceso de aprendizaje y enseñanza de circuitos de microondas

Este proyecto se marcó como objetivo desarrollar una aplicación interactiva basada en flash para motivar a los alumnos en el proceso de aprendizaje sobre circuitos de microondas. Para ello se ha realizado un juego de ordenador en el que el alumno asume la personalidad de un joven ingeniero de Telecomunicación a bordo de una nave espacial, en la que debe superar una serie de pruebas relacionadas con circuitos de microondas para pasar de nivel en nivel.Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicació

Eduardo de Robertis. On the centenary of his birth (1913-2013)

Hace cien años nació en Buenos Aires Eduardo de Robertis. Durante su brillante carrera científica como investigador medico llevó a cabo contribuciones fundamentales en biología celular. Su descubrimiento más importante, aparte de los microtúbulos, son las vesículas sinápticas que identifica, describe y aisla en los terminales sinápticos. Destaca asimismo por su utilización pionera de la microscopia electrónica y por la publicación del libro de citología y biología celular más influyente de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Sus cualidades como científico y como persona convierten a Eduardo de Robertis en un modelo de investigador y en un prototipo de persona autónoma e independiente frente al poder y los convencionalismos.A hundred years ago Eduardo de Robertis was born in Buenos Aires. During his brilliant scientific career as a medical researcher he did fundamental contributions to cell biology. His most important finding, besides the microtubules, was the synaptic vesicles, which were identified, described and isolated in synaptic terminals. He is also recognised by his pioneering use of electron microscopy and by his book about cytology and cell biology, the most influential in the second half of the twentieth century. His qualities as a scientist and as a person makes him a model of researcher and a prototype of an autonomous and independent person against the power and conventionalisms

Proyecto básico de red de abastecimiento en las urbanizaciones Mar de Pulpí, término municipal de Pulpí (Almería)

[EN] This TFG is a basic Project about a drinking water network. It is an unique and mixed net (meshed and branched), located in Pulpí (Almería). During the development of the TFG there are explained the hydraulic calculations, the mechanical calculations, it is described the work plan and it is done an economic valuation of the network. All this attending to the current regulations.[CA] Aquest treball de final de grau (TFG) és un projecte bàsic d'una xarxa d'abastament d'aigua potable. Es tracta d'una xarxa de tipus única i mixta (matjada i ramificada), situada a Pulpí (Almería) Durant el desenvolupament del TFG s'expliquen els càlculs hidràulics realitzats, els càlculs mecànics, es descriu el pla d'obra i es dóna una valoració económica de la xarxa. Tot això atenent a la normativa vigent.[ES] Este TFG es un proyecto básico de una red de abastecimiento de agua potable. Se trata de una red tipo única y mixta (mallada y ramificada), ubicada en Pulpí (Almería). Durante el desarrollo del TFG se explican los cálculos hidráulicos realizados, los cálculos mecánicos, se describe el plan de obra y se da una valoración económica de la red. Todo ello atendiendo a la normativa vigente.Muñoz Losilla, AJ. (2018). Proyecto básico de red de abastecimiento en las urbanizaciones Mar de Pulpí, término municipal de Pulpí (Almería). http://hdl.handle.net/10251/106025Archivo delegad