Destructive Privacy and Mutual Authentication in Vaudenay\u27s RFID Model

With the large scale adoption of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, a variety of security and privacy risks need to be addressed. Arguably, the most general and used RFID security and privacy model is the one proposed by Vaudenay. It considers concurrency, corruption (with or without destruction) of tags, and the possibility to get the result of a protocol session on the reader side. Security in Vaudenay\u27s model embraces two forms, unilateral (tag) authentication and mutual (tag and reader) authentication, while privacy is very flexible and dependent on the adversary class. The construction of destructive private RFID schemes in Vaudenay\u27s model was left open when the model was initially proposed. It was solved three years later in the context of unilateral authentication. In this paper we propose a destructive private and mutual authentication RFID scheme in Vaudenay\u27s model. The security and privacy of our scheme are rigorously proved. We also show that the only two RFID schemes proposed so far that claimed to achieve destructive privacy and mutual authentication are not even narrow forward private. Thus, our RIFD scheme is the first one to achieve this kind of privacy and security. The paper also points out some privacy proof flaws that have been met in previous constructions

Security and Privacy of PUF-Based RFID Systems

The last decade has shown an increasing interest in the use of the physically unclonable function (PUF) technology in the design of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. PUFs can bring extra security and privacy at the physical level that cannot be obtained by symmetric or asymmetric cryptography at the moment. However, many PUF-based RFID schemes proposed in recent years do not even achieve the lowest privacy level in reputable security and privacy models, such as Vaudenay’s model. In contrast, the lowest privacy in this model can be achieved through standard RFID schemes that use only symmetric cryptography. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze this aspect. Thus, it is emphasized the need to use formal models in the study of the security and privacy of (PUF-based) RFID schemes. We broadly discuss the tag corruption oracle and highlight some aspects that can lead to schemes without security or privacy. We also insist on the need to formally treat the cryptographic properties of PUFs to obtain security and privacy proofs. In the end, we point out a significant benefit of using PUF technology in RFID, namely getting schemes that offer destructive privacy in Vaudenay’s model

Privacy and Reader-first Authentication in Vaudenay\u27s RFID Model with Temporary State Disclosure

Privacy and mutual authentication under corruption with temporary state disclosure are two significant requirements for real-life applications of RFID schemes. No RFID scheme is known so far to meet these two requirements. In this paper we propose two practical RFID schemes that fill this gap. The first one achieves destructive privacy, while the second one narrow destructive privacy, in Vaudenay\u27s model with temporary state disclosure. Both of them provide mutual (reader-first) authentication. In order to achieve these privacy levels we use Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) to assure that the internal secret of the tag remains hidden against an adversary with invasive capabilities. Our first RFID scheme cannot be desynchronized for more than one step, while the second one avoids the use of random generators on tags. Detailed security and privacy proofs are provided

Privacy and Reader-first Authentication in Vaudenay's RFID Model with Temporary State Disclosure

Privacy and mutual authentication under corruption with temporary state disclosure are two significant requirements for real-life applications of RFID schemes. This paper proposes two practical RFID schemes that meet these requirements. They differ from other similar schemes in that they provide reader-first authentication. Regarding privacy, our first scheme achieves destructive privacy, while the second one -- narrow destructive privacy in Vaudenay's model with temporary state disclosure. To achieve these privacy levels, we use Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) to assure that the internal secret of the tag remains hidden from an adversary with invasive capabilities. Both of our schemes avoid the use of random generators on tags. Detailed security and privacy proofs are provided

Peripheral nervous system involvement associated with COVID-19. A systematic review of literature

There is increasing evidence of both central and peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement in COVID-19. We conducted this systematic literature review to investigate the characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with PNS, including the types and severity of cranial nerves (CN) involvement. We systematically searched on PubMed for studies reporting adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and PNS involvement until July 2021. From 1670 records, 225 articles matched the inclusion criteria, with a total of 1320 neurological events, in 1004 patients. There were 805 (61%) CN, 350 (26.5%) PNS, and 165 (12.5%) PNS plus CN events. The most frequently involved CN were the facial, vestibulo-cochlear and olfactory nerve in 27.3%, 25.4% and 16.1%, respectively. Guillain-Barre syndrome spectrum was identified in 84.2% of PNS events. We analysed 328 patients reported in 225 articles with CN, PNS, and PNS plus CN involvement. The patients with CN involvement were younger (mean age 46.2±17.1, p = .003), and were more frequently treated as outpatients (p < .001), mostly with glucocorticoids (p < .001). Patients that had PNS with or without CN involvement were more likely to be hospitalized (p < .001), and to receive intravenous immunoglobulins (p = .002) or plasma exchange (p = .002). Patients with CN, PNS, and PNS plus CN had severe COVID -19 disease in 24.8%, 37.3%, 34.9% respectively. The most common neurological outcome was mild/moderate sequelae in patients with CN, PNS, and PNS plus CN in 54.7%, 67.5% and 67.8% respectively (p = .1) and no significant difference was found between the three categories regarding death, disease severity, time from disease onset to neurological symptoms, lack of improvement and complete recovery. CN involvement was the most frequent PNS finding. All three categories of PNS involvement were rather associated to non-severe COVID-19 but it may be an important cause of hospitalization and post COVID-19 sequelae

Peripheral nervous system involvement associated with COVID-19. A systematic review of literature.

There is increasing evidence of both central and peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement in COVID-19. We conducted this systematic literature review to investigate the characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with PNS, including the types and severity of cranial nerves (CN) involvement. We systematically searched on PubMed for studies reporting adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and PNS involvement until July 2021. From 1670 records, 225 articles matched the inclusion criteria, with a total of 1320 neurological events, in 1004 patients. There were 805 (61%) CN, 350 (26.5%) PNS, and 165 (12.5%) PNS plus CN events. The most frequently involved CN were the facial, vestibulo-cochlear and olfactory nerve in 27.3%, 25.4% and 16.1%, respectively. Guillain-Barre syndrome spectrum was identified in 84.2% of PNS events. We analysed 328 patients reported in 225 articles with CN, PNS, and PNS plus CN involvement. The patients with CN involvement were younger (mean age 46.2±17.1, p = .003), and were more frequently treated as outpatients (p < .001), mostly with glucocorticoids (p < .001). Patients that had PNS with or without CN involvement were more likely to be hospitalized (p < .001), and to receive intravenous immunoglobulins (p = .002) or plasma exchange (p = .002). Patients with CN, PNS, and PNS plus CN had severe COVID -19 disease in 24.8%, 37.3%, 34.9% respectively. The most common neurological outcome was mild/moderate sequelae in patients with CN, PNS, and PNS plus CN in 54.7%, 67.5% and 67.8% respectively (p = .1) and no significant difference was found between the three categories regarding death, disease severity, time from disease onset to neurological symptoms, lack of improvement and complete recovery. CN involvement was the most frequent PNS finding. All three categories of PNS involvement were rather associated to non-severe COVID-19 but it may be an important cause of hospitalization and post COVID-19 sequelae

An analysis of baffles designs for limiting impact on the directional response for a partially filled tank with agro-food liquids

A directional response for a partially filled tank with agro-food liquids incorporates the motion of the free surface due to roll and longitudinal accelerations into the dynamic tank model. This paper presents an analysis of efficaciousness of different designs of baffles for two different tank, to limit the impact of the response given by the liquid on the tank walls. In this paper modelling of the behaviour of the cross-section circular and ellipsoidal tank with baffles, partially filled with liquids agro-food, was developed, which performs a braking-in-a-turn manoeuver. Two different tank truck models have been used to simulate the sloshing effect of agro-food liquid cargo. Is also studied the two geometric models of the tank was done by using SolidWorks and simulating the behaviour of the tank ANSYS-CFX. In this study, there were simulated and modeled two models of tank-type “X”, respectively type “Y” used for the storage and transport of liquid agro-food products, namely water, for different speeds (v = 14m / s and v = 20m / s) and two filling levels of the tank trucks (40% and 80%). The results obtained were compared the behaviour of the tank partially filled into a braking-in-a-turn manoeuver, in which the total values of the deformations that appear as a result of the impact due to the movement of the liquid inside the tank trucks

Acute Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis despite Anticoagulation in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

(1) Background: We aimed to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of patients diagnosed with pulmonary artery thrombosis (PAT) despite receiving anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). (2) Methods: We retrospectively studied all hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients diagnosed with PAT between March 2020 and December 2021, who received LMWH for ≥72 h until the diagnosis of PAT. Acute PAT was confirmed by a CT pulmonary angiogram. (3) Results: We included 30 severe and critical COVID-19 patients. Median age was 62 (54–74) years, with 83.3% males, and comorbidities seen in 73.3%. PAT was diagnosed despite prophylactic (23.3%), intermediate (46.6%) or therapeutic (30%) doses of LMWH for a median time of 8 (4.7–12) days. According to their Wells score, 80% of patients had a low probability of pulmonary embolism diagnosis. PAT was localized in the lower lobes of the lungs in 76.6% of cases with 33.3% having bilateral involvement, with the distal, peripheral arteries being the most affected. At the PAT diagnosis we found a worsening of respiratory function, with seven patients progressing to mechanical ventilation (p = 0.006). The in-hospital mortality was 30%. (4) Conclusions: PAT should be considered in patients with severe and critical COVID-19, mainly in elderly male patients with comorbidities, irrespective of Wells score and LMWH anticoagulation

Antibiotic Prescription and In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19: A Prospective Multicentre Cohort Study

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, empiric antibiotics (ATBs) have been prescribed on a large scale in both in- and outpatients. We aimed to assess the impact of antibiotic treatment on the outcomes of hospitalised patients with moderate and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre cohort study in six clinical hospitals, between January 2021 and May 2021. Results: We included 553 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, of whom 58% (311/553) were prescribed antibiotics, while bacteriological tests were performed in 57% (178/311) of them. Death was the outcome in 48 patients&mdash;39 from the ATBs group and 9 from the non-ATBs group. The patients who received antibiotics during hospitalisation had a higher mortality (RR = 3.37, CI 95%: 1.7&ndash;6.8), and this association was stronger in the subgroup of patients without reasons for antimicrobial treatment (RR = 6.1, CI 95%: 1.9&ndash;19.1), while in the subgroup with reasons for antimicrobial therapy the association was not statistically significant (OR = 2.33, CI 95%: 0.76&ndash;7.17). After adjusting for the confounders, receiving antibiotics remained associated with a higher mortality only in the subgroup of patients without criteria for antibiotic prescription (OR = 10.3, CI 95%: 2&ndash;52). Conclusions: In our study, antibiotic treatment did not decrease the risk of death in the patients with mild and severe COVID-19, but was associated with a higher risk of death in the subgroup of patients without reasons for it

Data_Sheet_1_The outcome and risk factors associated with central and peripheral nervous system involvement in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a retrospective cohort study.PDF

IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 infection can affect any organ, including both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The aim of this study was to explore the outcome and risk factors associated with the involvement of either CNS or PNS in a cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational cohort study of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19, between May 2020 and December 2022, presenting with new onset neurological disabilities any time after admission.ResultsWe included 115 patients, 72 with CNS manifestations and 43 with PNS involvement. The CNS manifestations were COVID-19-associated encephalopathy, headache, neurovascular events, and seizures in 80.5, 43, 31.9, and 11.1% of patients, respectively. The neurovascular events were ischemic stroke in 17 (23.6%) patients, hemorrhagic stroke in 6 (8.3%) patients, venous thrombosis in 1 (1.4%) patient, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 1 (1.4%) patient. Cranial nerve involvement was the most frequent PNS manifestation in 34 (79%) cases, followed by mononeuritis in 5 (11.6%) patients and polyneuropathy in 4 (9.3%) patients. The affected cranial nerves were the vestibulocochlear nerve in 26 (60.5%) patients, the olfactory nerve in 24 (55.8%) patients, the oculomotor nerves in 5 (11.6%) patients, and the facial nerve in 1 (2.3%) patient. Two patients (9.3%) presented with polyneuritis cranialis. Older age (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.003–1.037, p = 0.01), COVID severity (HR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.42–4.5, p = 0.002), ischemic cardiac disease (HR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.05–5.6, p = 0.03), and increased D-dimers (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00–1.00, p = 0.02) were independently associated with the development of CNS manifestations. The factors associated with in-hospital mortality were age (HR = 1.059, 95% CI: 1.024–1.096, p = 0.001), C-reactive protein (HR = 1.006, 95% CI: 1.00–1.011, p = 0.03), CNS involvement (HR = 9.155, 95% CI: 1.185–70.74, p = 0.03), and leucocyte number (HR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.026–1.081, p ConclusionCOVID-19-associated encephalopathy was the most common CNS manifestation in our study, but neurovascular events are also important considering the overlap between inflammatory and prothrombotic pathways, especially in severe cases. CNS involvement was associated with in-hospital all-cause mortality. PNS findings were various, involving mostly the cranial nerves, especially the vestibulocochlear nerve.</p