Quantum Resistant Authentication Methods for Quantum Key Distribution

Màster Oficial de Ciència i Tecnologia Quàntiques / Quantum Science and Technology, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2021-2022. Tutors: Marc Manzano, David JosephQuantum Key Distribution (QKD) can distribute keys securely, even in the era of quantum computers, only if the classical channel has been authenticated. This master thesis investigates several methods and optimal parameters for authenticating the classical channel as quickly as possible in the QKD protocol BB84. We utilized quantum-resistant signature algorithms for authentication as they withstand attacks from quantum adversaries. We introduce a novel authentication approach, mono-authentication, which comprises authenticating only at the end rather than the traditional multi-authentication after each stage of communication. We first simulated a simile of what would be performed in classical cryptography to distribute a key, where we ask the QKD for a determined number of security bits. Next, we studied how four different signature algorithms performed in a noisy quantum channel and found the optimal cases for implementing these algorithms. Then, we obtained a frequency of authentications for three payloads. Finally, we used the previous results to calculate the minimum period for each post-quantum algorithm needs for authentication in terms of the key rate. Results show that the mono-authentication style is at least twice faster than the multi-authentication case. We conclude that in noisy channels, the mono-case reduces its cost significantly. Regarding the performance of the signatures, CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM is shown to be the fastest overall, and in contrast to the other algorithms, its number of signatures per second fluctuates with the key rate while being consistently low for the others

Association among presence of cancer pain, inadequate pain control, and psychotropic drug use

Introduction Pain is a common symptom in cancer patients, and its control and management are complex. Despite the high concomitant use of psychotropic drugs among such patients, the association among pain, inadequate pain control, and psychotropic drug use has not been fully determined. This study examined the prevalence of cancer pain and inadequate pain control and the association with psychotropic drug use. Materials and methods In this cross-sectional study, we investigated 402 medical records obtained by simple random sampling of oncology patients at a hospital in northern Spain from July 2012 to July 2014. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated together with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) by unconditional logistic regression for each type of psychotropic drug (anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressants). Results The mean patient age was 61.17 (standard deviation ± 13.14) years; 57.5% were women, 42.5% men. Pain was present in 18.4% of patients and inadequate pain control in 54.2%. We found a statistically significant association between the presence of cancer pain and anxiolytic use (adjusted OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.49±6.68) and hypnotic use (adjusted OR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.77±15.25). Inadequate pain control was associated to a greater extent with the use of those drugs: adjusted OR for anxiolytic use, 4.74 (95% CI, 1.91±11.80); adjusted OR for hypnotic use, 6.09 (95% CI, 1.74±21.32). By contrast, no association was found between pain and antidepressant use (adjusted OR, 0.99). Conclusion The presence of pain and (to a greater extent) poor pain control were associated with increased use of certain psychotropic drugs, such as anxiolytics and hypnotics. There appeared to be no association between pain and antidepressant use

Guía Digital Básica Acerca de la Terminología Inglesa Estandarizada en la Gerencia de Proyectos

El proyecto se basó en la necesidad que tienen las empresas a nivel mundial de contar con profesionales preparados en gerencia de proyectos para cumplir sus objetivos estratégicos. Esta situación impulsó a la elaboración de una guía digital básica acerca de la terminología inglesa estandarizada en la gerencia de proyectos, que complementó el proceso de enseñanza de los estudiantes de pregrado de la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Empresariales de la Universidad Piloto de Colombia. Al finalizar el proyecto se pudo apreciar que la elaboración de la guía fue una idea viable para complementar el desarrollo de los cursos y brindó un beneficio intelectual y económico al cliente con las matrículas en los cursos de especialización en Gerencia de Proyectos.The project was based on the need for companies worldwide to have professionals trained in Project Management to meet their strategic objectives. This situation prompted the development of a basic digital guide on standardized English terminology in Project Management, which complemented the teaching process of undergraduate students from the Faculty of Social and Business Sciences at Universidad Piloto de Colombia. At the end of the project, it was possible to observe that the making of the guide was a viable idea to complement the development of the courses and provided an intellectual and economic benefit to the client with the student enrollment in the specialization courses in Project Management

Magnetoimpedance response and field sensitivity in stress-annealed co-based microwires for sensor applications

Amorphous soft magnetic microwires have attracted much attention in the area of sensor applications due to their excellent properties. In this work, we study the influence of annealing treatments (stress and conventional) in the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) response and the field sensitivity of the soft magnetic Co69.2Fe3.6Ni1B12.5Si11Mo1.5C1.2 glass-coated microwires. Here we report a remarkable and simultaneous enhancement of GMI effect and field sensitivity. The highest sensitivity of 104%/Oe and the GMI response of 234% were achieved for 300 °C stress-annealed samples at 472 and 236 MPa, respectively. Additionally, we found that stress-annealed microwires exhibit a frequency dependence on maximal GMI response and field sensitivity. These findings are obtained by fine-tuning their magnetoeslastic anisotropies through stress-annealing treatments of as-prepared microwires at the proper temperature and axial applied stress upon annealing. We hope that the results presented here widen the scope of investigations for the future design of soft magnetic materials for sensor purposes.D.G.-A is founded by MAT2017-83631-C3-R. This work was also supported by Spanish MCIU under PGC2018-099530-B-C31 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) and by the Government of the Basque Country under PIBA 2018-44 project and by the University of Basque Country under the scheme of “Ayuda a Grupos Consolidados” (Ref.: GIU18/192)

Cancer Patients and Anxiety: A Gender Perspective

The complexity of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer means that it is often associated with anxiety symptoms. The aim of our study was to further our understanding of the oncological process and the presence of anxiety symptoms, from a gender perspective. A cross-sectional study was performed, examining 402 medical records obtained by simple random sampling of oncology patients at a hospital in northern Spain from July 2012 to July 2014. Data collection took place between February and May 2015. Psychiatric and sociodemographic variables were gathered, as well as pain variables and information regarding the oncological process. The data analysis included a descriptive univariate analysis and a bivariate analysis, and a logistic regression model was performed. Our results suggest that women with cancer suffer more anxiety symptoms than men with cancer. Women with anxiety symptoms represented 76.5% of all patients with anxiety. The OR of suffering anxiety symptoms between women and men was 2.43 (95% CI 1.05?5.63) (p = 0.04). A greater incidence of anxiety symptoms was found in patients with cancer pain and oncological treatment with biological therapy. Our results suggest that the gender perspective is necessary in the management of mental health in patients with cancer. Nonetheless, further studies are necessary to confirm our finding

Relationship of Binge Drinking with Impairments Affecting Memory and Executive Function among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Spain

Binge drinking (BD) is a common practice among college students. Alcohol consumption may affect brain structures that continue to develop in early adulthood. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of BD with impairments affecting memory and executive function among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students (aged 18?30 years) enrolled for the academic year 2018?2019 at the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Cantabria (Spain). Data collection included sociodemographic and academic information, together with alcohol and drug use information, collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. A battery of validated tests was used to gather neuropsychological variables. A total of 142 participants were included, of which 88.03% were women. Up to 38.03% were classified as BD. No differences were found in memory tests. Regarding executive function, better performance in the Stroop Color andWord Test was observed in non-BD but the results were not statistically significant. In conclusion, no relationship was found between memory and executive function and BD, although better performance in executive function, specifically inhibitory control, was observed in non-BD

Excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking in college students

Background: Binge drinking (BD) refers to a pattern of alcohol consumption characterized by the consumption of large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time followed by periods of abstinence. This drinking pattern is prevalent worldwide, mainly among young people. Excessive alcohol consumption is the spectrum of consumption patterns that may have or have had health consequences, and includes the concepts of risky alcohol use, harmful alcohol use and alcohol dependence according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV), the latter two are currently grouped into alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to the fifth edition of the DSM (DSM-5). Due to the high prevalence of BD among young people, especially university students, as well as the important consequences of its practice, a study was conducted to evaluate excessive alcohol consumption and its relationship with the practice of BD in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students (aged 18-30 years) enrolled in the academic year 2018-2019 at the Faculty of Nursing at a university in northern Spain. Data collection included sociodemographic information, and alcohol use information, collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. To measure the excessive alcohol consumption, this study used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Results: A total of 142 participants were included, of which 88.03% were women. Up to 38.03% were classified as BD. Up to 14.77% of non-BD participants and 66.67% of BD participants were classified as risky drinkers (AUDIT Total geq 8 in men or geq 6 in women) (p < 0.001). Up to 3.41% of the non-BD and 24.07% of the BD were drinkers with harmful alcohol use and probable alcohol dependence (AUDIT Total geq 13) (p < 0.001). A total of 5.68% of non-BD and 42.59% of BD were AUD drinkers (AUDIT Total geq 9 in males or geq 8 in females) (p < 0.001). In addition, statistically significant differences were found between the BD and non-BD groups in the responses to each of the AUDIT items, as well as in the total score and also in the scores of the three domains of the questionnaire. Conclusions: Excessive alcohol consumption is frequent among university students, especially among those who practice BD

Relationship between Depressive Symptoms, Personality, and Binge Drinking among University Students in Spain

Binge drinking (BD) is a common practice among college students. Alcohol consumption has been related to depressive symptoms and certain personality factors, although less is known about the relationship of these variables with BD. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of BD with depressive symptoms and personality in university students. We performed a cross-sectional study among students (aged 18?30 years) enrolled in the academic year 2018-2019 at the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Cantabria (Spain). Sociodemographic, academic, and alcohol and other drug use information was collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. The Beck Depression Inventory-II was used to measure depressive symptomatology and the Neo Five-Factor Inventory was used for personality. A total of 142 participants were included, 88.03% of which were women. Up to 38.03% were classified as BD. Concerning depressive symptoms, 7.41% of BD were at the moderate-severe level compared to 3.41% of non-BD (p = 0.7096). Regarding personality, the median score for extraversion of BD was 35 (Q1 = 29, Q3 = 40), 32 (Q1 = 28, Q3 = 36) in non-BD (p = 0.0062), conscientiousness scored 34 (Q1 = 30.5, Q3 = 38) points in non-BD, 31.50 (Q1 = 27, Q3 = 37) in BD (p = 0.0224). In conclusion, BD students have higher levels of extraversion and lower levels of responsibility than non-BD students. No significant differences were found between the level of depressive symptomatology between BD and non-BD students

Impact of Pain Neuroscience Education Program in Community Physiotherapy Context on Pain Perception and Psychosocial Variables Associated with It in Elderly Persons: A Ranzomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the long-term effect (six-months) of a Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on pain perception, quality of life, kinesiophobia and catastrophism in older adults with multimorbidity and chronic pain. Fifty participants (n = 50) were randomly assigned to the pain education therapy group (PET; n = 24) and control group (CG; n = 26). The PET group received six sessions (i.e., once a week, 50 min) about neurophysiology of pain while the CG carried on with their usual life. Perception of pain through the visual analogue scale (VAS), quality of life (EQ-5D questionnaire), kinesiophobia (TSK-11) and catastrophism (PCS) were assessed after six months since the last PNE session. Statistically significant differences on VAS (t(48) = 44, p = 0.01, ES = 0.42 [0.13, 0.65]) was found in favor to PET group. No other statistically significant differences were found. This study found that the application of a PNE intervention in an isolated form was able to significantly reduce pain perception with low effect size in the long-term (six months after intervention) in elderly people with chronic pain.Medicin