A Novel and Robust Security Approach for Authentication, Integrity, and Confidentiality of Lithium-ion Battery Management Systems

Battery management systems (BMSs) play a critical and crucial role in ensuring the safety and the efficiency of the batteries. The increasing BMS complexity, the expanding interconnections between batteries and applications, and the introduction of cloud-based energy storage system structures have led to growing concerns about battery cybersecurity. For instance, the data exchange between the local and remote BMS parts can be exposed to cybersecurity attacks. Classic BMSs are not equipped with security mechanisms that are instead essential to protect their integrity and reliability and prevent serious consequences such as loss of data, equipment damage, and counterfeiting of battery components. This work highlights the importance of securing BMSs against cyber threats and discusses the current state of the art of cybersecurity in BMSs. The main outcome is the proposal of a novel and robust security approach to design a BMS able to prevent misuse and undesired manipulation of battery equipment and data. The proposed design approach can be used as enabling technology to support the application to the BMSs of the most diffused security mechanisms adopted by the state of the art as cybersecurity protections

YOU&AI

The YOU&AI Project was at the core of a three-years collaboration between the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci (MNST) in Milan, Italy and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC). Its aim was to bring the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the attention of citizens, and to stimulate a dialogue on possible applications, impacts, potential risks and ethical issues. Hosted in the Museum, the project was co-designed by the two Institutions, with the aim of describing AI not only in technological terms but also giving emphasis on ethical and social aspects, stimulating dialogue and active participation. This was obtained through a combination of immersive technologies (Digital Zone) and discussion workshops. The project has achieved its objective to inform citizens and actively involve them in reflection and discussion on AI. Museum visitors were generally very curious about AI and were interested in learning more. They showed strong acceptance of the potential benefits of using AI in a wide range of applications, conditioned by a demand to Public authorities to urgently provide a robust regulatory framework regarding privacy and ethics. Visitors ideally would like to see global cooperation for AI regulation and certainly want to see cooperation at least across Member States at European level.JRC.R - Support Service

Trend of HPV 16/18 Genotypes in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 3 : Data for 2007-2018

Aim: In the post-vaccination era, the starting age and time intervals of cervical screening could change (older age and longer screening intervals). This scenario may be achieved by significantly reducing human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 prevalence (genotypes included in the current vaccines). In this regard, assessing the trend over time of these HPV infections in high-grade cervical lesions can provide information on the objective. The present study aimed to evaluate the trend of HPV 16/18 over the years 2007-2018 in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3. Methods: This is a retrospective multi-institutional study including HPV genotyped and unvaccinated women under 30 with CIN3. The sample was divided into the following periods: 2007-2010, 2011-2014, 2015-2018. HPV genotypes were grouped in genotypes 16/18, genotypes 31/33/35/52/58/67 (genetically related to HPV16), genotypes 39/45/59/68/ 70 (genetically related to HPV18), genotypes 31/33/45/52/58 (high-risk types included in the nonavalent vaccine), possibly carcinogenic HPV (genotypes 26/30/53/67/70/73/82/85), low risk HPV (genotypes 6/11/40/42/43/44/54/55/61). The trend between periods and HPV genotypes was measured using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Results: The final analysis included 474 participants. HPV 16/18 prevalence decreased significantly over the years (77.8% vs 68.9% vs 66.0%, respectively, Ptrend=0.027). Possibly carcinogenic HPV (genotypes 26/30/53/67/70/73/82/85) showed a significant negative prevalence trend over time (4.9% vs 1.1% vs 1.3%, respectively, Ptrend=0.046). Finally, there was a significant positive trend over the years for high risk HPV genotypes 31/33/45/52/58 in women under 25 (9.9% vs 17.0% vs 24.0%, respectively, Ptrend=0.048). Conclusion: The prevalence of CIN3 lesions related to HPV 16/18 genotypes decreased over time from 2007 to 2018. These data highlight a herd effect of the HPV vaccine. However, fifteen years after HPV vaccine introduction, we are still a long way from herd immunity. The increase in high-risk types 31/33/45/52/58 will need to be reassessed when the nonavalent vaccine impact will be more reliable

Age-related distribution of uncommon HPV genotypes in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3

Aim: Cervical cancer prevention guidelines include Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test, cytology, and HPV-16/18 typing for triage to determine the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 as the best proxy of cervical cancer risk. In doing that, they do not consider how age can modify the type-specific risk of CIN3. The present study aimed to evaluate the age-related distribution of HPV genotypes affecting the risk-assessment in cervical cancer screening programs: non-screening-type-HPV and non-HPV-16/18 in unvaccinated women with CIN3. Methods: Retrospective multi-institutional study, including HPV genotyped women with CIN3 on cone histology treated between 2014 and 2019. The sample was divided into three categories of age: <30, 30-44, ≥45. HPV genotypes were grouped in non-screening-type-HPV (not-including genotypes 16/18/31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/66/68) and non-HPV-16/18. Associations and trends between different age-groups and HPV genotypes were measured. Results: 1332 women were analyzed. Non-screening-type-HPV CIN3 were 73 (5.5%). Non-HPV-16/18 were found in 417 participants (31.3%). Women over 45 associated with non-screening-type HPV [odds ratio (OR) = 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-3.25; p = 0.027]. Non-screening-type-HPV prevalence increased significantly with age (3.9% vs 5.1% vs 9.0%, p = 0.016). Women under 30 showed a lower rate of non-HPV-16/18 (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.89; p = 0.007). There was a positive trend with age of non-HPV-16/18 CIN3 (23.6% vs 32.1% vs 38.0%, p = 0.0004). Conclusion: The proportion of CIN3 lesions unrelated to genotypes detected by primary screening tests increased with age. This implies that age probably modifies the risk of CIN3 and possibly of cancer associated with HPV types. The risk-based recommendation should take into consideration age to define the management of HPV positive women

Development of a novel nomogram-based online tool to predict axillary status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cN+ breast cancer : A multicentre study on 1,950 patients

Background Type of axillary surgery in breast cancer (BC) patients who convert from cN + to ycN0 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is still debated. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a preoperative predictive nomogram to select those patients with a low risk of residual axillary disease after NAC, in whom axillary surgery could be minimized. Patients and methods 1950 clinically node-positive BC patients from 11 Breast Units, treated by NAC and subsequent surgery, were included from 2005 to 2020. Patients were divided in two groups: those who achieved nodal pCR vs. those with residual nodal disease after NAC. The cohort was divided into training and validation set with a geographic separation criterion. The outcome was to identify independent predictors of axillary pathologic complete response (pCR). Results Independent predictive factors associated to nodal pCR were axillary clinical complete response (cCR) after NAC (OR 3.11, p < 0.0001), ER-/HER2+ (OR 3.26, p < 0.0001) or ER+/HER2+ (OR 2.26, p = 0.0002) or ER-/HER2- (OR 1.89, p = 0.009) BC, breast cCR (OR 2.48, p < 0.0001), Ki67 > 14% (OR 0.52, p = 0.0005), and tumor grading G2 (OR 0.35, p = 0.002) or G3 (OR 0.29, p = 0.0003). The nomogram showed a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 73% (AUC 0.77, 95%CI 0.75–0.80). After external validation the accuracy of the nomogram was confirmed. Conclusion The accuracy makes this freely-available, nomogram-based online tool useful to predict nodal pCR after NAC, translating the concept of tailored axillary surgery also in this setting of patients

Multi-Camera Rig and Spherical Camera Assessment for Indoor Surveys in Complex Spaces

This study compares the photogrammetric performance of three multi-camera systems—two spherical cameras (INSTA 360 Pro2 and MG1) and one multi-camera rig (ANT3D)—to evaluate their accuracy and precision in confined environments. These systems are particularly suited for indoor surveys, such as narrow spaces, where traditional methods face limitations. The instruments were tested for the survey of a narrow spiral staircase within Milan Cathedral and the results were analyzed based on different processing strategies, including different relative constraints between sensors, various calibration sets for distortion parameters, interior orientation (IO), and relative orientation (RO), as well as two different ground control solutions. This study also included a repeatability test. The findings showed that, with appropriate ground control, all systems achieved the target accuracy of 1 cm. In partially unconstrained scenarios, the drift errors ranged between 5 and 10 cm. Performance varied depending on the processing pipelines; however, the results suggest that imposing a multi-camera constraint between sensors and estimating both IO and RO parameters during the Bundle Block Adjustment yields the best outcomes. In less stable environments, it might be preferable to pre-calibrate and fix the IO parameters

SuperCap-based Energy Back-up System for Automotive Electronic Control Units

The E-latch is a new automotive mechatronic device that substitutes the door closure mechanical system with electro-actuated parts plus an embedded electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the main vehicle network. Due to severe automotive safety-critical requirements for door closure, an energy back-up system is required. A solution based on supercaps and boost converter is proposed in this work to ensure E-latch operation even in case of main battery failure. An in-depth thermal, electrical and durability characterization of the supercaps proves the reliability of the energy back-up unit for automotive applications. A Components Off the Shelf (COTS) approach has been followed for the E-latch prototype and test phases. A migration towards an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design approach is envisaged for future large volume productio

Game Console Controller Interface for People with Disability

This paper presents an interface device allowing people with upper limbs disabilities to play with console video games. Typical console controllers are equipped with several push-buttons and joysticks often to be operated at the same time, thus becoming a real barrier. Some do-it-yourself solutions exist by adapting commercial controllers to special needs. But, this way, the video game control is totally left to the disabled and very often he is still not able to play the game with his residual functionalities. On top of that such solutions are not even marketable, being non-certified modifications of a commercial device. On the contrary, the system described in this paper is a completely new device connected between the original controller and the console. It allows the connection of the most suitable interface for the specific disability. Thanks to this device the specific interface acts in the same manner as push-buttons and/or joysticks of the original controller. Mapping external sensors functions to the original controller ones is performed by a simple and intuitive procedure. The kind and number of external buttons/sensors is decided according to the user's potential. The original joypad can be used along with the external sensors connected to the device, allowing collaborative playing between one or more disabled persons and another player