On the security of the Blockchain Bix Protocol and Certificates

The BIX protocol is a blockchain-based protocol that allows distribution of certificates linking a subject with his public key, hence providing a service similar to that of a PKI but without the need of a CA. In this paper we analyze the security of the BIX protocol in a formal way, in four steps. First, we identify formal security assumptions which are well-suited to this protocol. Second, we present some attack scenarios against the BIX protocol. Third, we provide a formal security proof that some of these attacks are not feasible under our previously established assumptions. Finally, we show how another attack may be carried on.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur

Strategic investment in merchant transmission: the impact of capacity utilization rules

In this paper we look at the relative merits of two capacity utilization regimes in the merchant electricity transmission network: Must offer (Mo) where the entire capacity installed is made available for transmission and Non Must Offer (NMo) where some capacity could be withheld. We look at two specific cases: (i) Demand for transmission varies across time, and (ii) Vertical integration is allowed between investors in transmission network and electricity generators. In the case of time-varying demand under Mo, we find that a monopolist may underinvest in transmission when compared to NMo, although NMo may lead to more capacity withholding. In the case of vertical integration, we find that when the market power is with the generators of the exporting node, without vertical integration no welfare-enhancing merchant investment would occur. Further, if the generators in the importing node have market power, which of the two regimes is welfare enhancing depends on the parameter values. In case vertical integration is better, then Mo is better than NMo. Finally, we also argue that the incentive to collude among various transmission network investors is mitigated with Mo in place

Química para comprender el mundo: Dos ejemplos ambientales

Vivimos en un mundo de sustancias químicas, muchas son de origen natural y otras sintéticas. Las sustancias químicas están presentes en los alimentos, medicinas, vitaminas, pinturas, pegamentos, productos de limpieza, materiales de construcción, automóviles, equipos electrónicos, equipos deportivos, fibras naturales, fibras sintéticas, entre otros.Fil: Sala, Luis Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentin

Reacciones de eliminación-beta en aldonolactonas : Descarboxilación oxidativa de aldonolactonas con sulfato cérico. Síntesis de 2-Desoxi-azúcares

Fil:Sala, Luis Federico. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Reduction of hypervalent chromium in acidic media by alginic acid

Selective oxidation of carboxylate groups present in alginic acid by CrVI affords CO2, oxidized alginic acid, and CrIII as final products. The redox reaction afforded first-order kinetics in [alginic acid], [CrVI], and [H+], at fixed ionic strength and temperature. Kinetic studies showed that the redox reaction proceeds through a mechanism which combines CrVI →CrIV → CrII and CrVI → CrIV → CrIII pathways. The mechanism was supported by the observation of free radicals, CrO22+ and CrV as reaction intermediates. The reduction of CrIV and CrV by alginic acid was independently studied and it was found to occur more than 103 times faster than alginic acid/CrVI reaction, in acid media. At pH 1–3, oxo-chromate(V)–alginic acid species remain in solution during several hours at 15 °C. The results showed that this abundant structural polysaccharide present on brown seaweeds is able to reduce CrVI/V/IV or stabilize high-valent chromium depending on pH value.Fil: Bertoni, Fernando Ariel. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bellú, Sebastián Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario; ArgentinaFil: González, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Sala, Luis Federico. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentin

Sfide etiche nell'assistenza agli anziani in contesto acuto e residenziale: una revisione di scopo

Introduction: The discontinuity between the high ideals of nursing education and real-world practice is a major cause of frustration, moral distress and burnout among the youngest, and pushes up to half nurses to change career within two years. These conditions are accentuated in the care of elderly patients with multiple chronic needs. Method: A multidisciplinary team of nurses and philosophers investigated the chronic determinants of ethical issues in aged care nursing, building on insightful experiences from different institu­tional settings, in order to provide evidence for contextualized and patient-oriented professio­nal support. A scoping review protocol was employed at this purpose. Results: Most of the environmental and organizational deteminants of chronical ethical issues are out­side the control of nurses, and most of the relational ones follow as a result in both settings. Many of the them have been confirmed and further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Although there are not universal solutions to the issues described, still it is possible to distin­guish which determinants fall within the control of nurses, to help them prevent or manage their occurrence; and what are beyond, to help them avoid self-blame and transfer constructive information to those who can intervene. Conclusion: Education can help exercise critical thinking and communicate properly. However, once maximized team cooperation, orga­nizational efficiency, and individual soft skills, diminishing room for improvement will be available at increasing human and financial costs. Improving the condition of nurses is an urgent political responsibility and requires a broader socio-cultural change. Keywords: burnout, COVID-19, elderly, moral distress, workplace health promotion.Introduzione: La frattura fra educazione infermieristica e realtà lavorativa quotidiana rappresenta una frequente causa di frustrazione ed esaurimento psicofisico, che spinge fino a metà degli infermieri a ritirarsi entro due anni dal conseguimento del titolo. Tali condizioni sono accentuate nell’assistenza alla persona anziana affetta da bisogni cronici e complessi. Metodo: Un gruppo multidisciplinare di infermieri e filosofi ha studiato i determinanti ambientali, organizzativi e relazionali alla base dei problemi etici che emergono con maggior frequenza nell’assistenza alla persona anziana, sia nelle strutture per acuti, sia nelle strutture di ricovero a lungo termine, alla ricerca di evidenze utili a migliorare le condizioni dei professionisti. A tal proposito è stata una condotta una revisione di scopo. Risultati: La maggior parte dei problemi ambientali e organizzativi risultano essere al di fuori del controllo dei singoli infermieri, e la maggior parte dei problemi relazionali ne rappresentano la conseguenza. Molti di questi problemi sono stati confermati e aggravati dalla pandemia di COVID-19. Discussione: Sebbene non vi siano soluzioni trasversali a tutti i contesti, resta possibile distinguere quali problemi rientrino nel dominio di azione degli infermieri, per aiutarli a prevenirne o gestirne l’occorrenza; e quali invece vadano oltre, onde evitare sentimenti di autoaccusa, e trasferire informazioni utili a coloro che invece possono di volta in volta intervenire. Conclusioni: La formazione può allenare il pensiero critico e la comunicazione fra operatori, pazienti e familiari. Una volta raggiunti i massimi livelli possibili di cooperazione ed efficienza, tuttavia, margini di miglioramento sempre più ridotti saranno acquisiti a costi umani ed economici sempre maggiori. Il miglioramento delle condizioni degli infermieri dipende sempre sempre più da investimenti allocativi e culturali urgenti. Keywords: anziani, COVID-19, esaurimento psicofisico, politiche allocative, salute sul luogo di lavoro

Status of the Space Radiation Monte Carlos Simulation Based on FLUKA and ROOT

The NASA-funded project reported on at the first IWSSRR in Arona to develop a Monte-Carlo simulation program for use in simulating the space radiation environment based on the FLUKA and ROOT codes is well into its second year of development, and considerable progress has been made. The general tasks required to achieve the final goals include the addition of heavy-ion interactions into the FLUKA code and the provision of a ROOT-based interface to FLUKA. The most significant progress to date includes the incorporation of the DPMJET event generator code within FLUKA to handle heavy-ion interactions for incident projectile energies greater than 3GeV/A. The ongoing effort intends to extend the treatment of these interactions down to 10 MeV, and at present two alternative approaches are being explored. The ROOT interface is being pursued in conjunction with the CERN LHC ALICE software team through an adaptation of their existing AliROOT software. As a check on the validity of the code, a simulation of the recent data taken by the ATIC experiment is underway

The Monastery of Sant Miquel d’Escornalbou: multidisciplinary research for the understanding of the relation between the religious complex, the territory and the European Franciscan network

This research is part of the European project F-ATLAS – Franciscan Landscapes the Observance between Italy, Portugal and Spain, which aim is to study the Franciscan Observance network and to find effective strategies for the conservation, protection and promotion of this important heritage. The contribution is focused on the multidisciplinary study of the Monastery of Sant Miquel d’Escornalbou (Tarragona, Spain). The historical, architectural and patrimonial research on this last and interesting centre of medieval spirituality has been developed jointly by the Italian and Spanish teams of the project. From its foundation until the last reconstruction by Eduard Toda around 1910, the complex’s function and shape have changed significantly: during the centuries, several interventions have modified it to the point of making it difficult today to read its origin and evolutionary phases. The integrated laser-scanner and photogrammetric survey, together with the creation of a digital catalogue of geo-referenced convents and the results of the international workshop carried out in November 2021, represent the bases for further analysis regarding the evolutionary phases of the complex, the buildings’ structure conditions and the definition of possible strategies for redevelopment