A decision support system for corporations cyber security risk management

This thesis presents a decision aiding system named C3-SEC (Contex-aware Corporative Cyber Security), developed in the context of a master program at Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Portugal. The research dimension and the corresponding software development process that followed are presented and validated with an application scenario and case study performed at Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE – Ecuador. C3-SEC is a decision aiding software intended to support cyber risks and cyber threats analysis of a corporative information and communications technological infrastructure. The resulting software product will help corporations Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) on cyber security risk analysis, decision-making and prevention measures for the infrastructure and information assets protection. The work is initially focused on the evaluation of the most popular and relevant tools available for risk assessment and decision making in the cyber security domain. Their properties, metrics and strategies are studied and their support for cyber security risk analysis, decision-making and prevention is assessed for the protection of organization's information assets. A contribution for cyber security experts decision support is then proposed by the means of reuse and integration of existing tools and C3-SEC software. C3-SEC extends existing tools features from the data collection and data analysis (perception) level to a full context-ware reference model. The software developed makes use of semantic level, ontology-based knowledge representation and inference supported by widely adopted standards, as well as cyber security standards (CVE, CPE, CVSS, etc.) and cyber security information data sources made available by international authorities, to share and exchange information in this domain. C3-SEC development follows a context-aware systems reference model addressing the perception, comprehension, projection and decision/action layers to create corporative scale cyber security situation awareness

Antarctic environmental protection: Strengthening the links between science and governance

The Antarctic has significant environmental, scientific, historic, and intrinsic values, all of which are worth protecting into the future. Nevertheless, the area is subject to an increasing level and diversity of human activities that may impact these values within marine, terrestrial and cryosphere environments. Threats to the Antarctic environment, and to the aforementioned values, include climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, wildlife disturbance and non-native species introductions. Over time, a suite of legally binding international agreements, which form part of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), has been established to help safeguard the Antarctic environment and provide a framework for addressing the challenges arising from these threats. Foremost among these agreements are the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Many scientists working in Antarctica undertake research that is relevant to Antarctic environmental policy development. More effective two-way interaction between scientists and those responsible for policy development would further strengthen the governance framework, including by (a) better communication of policy makers’ priorities and identification of related science requirements and (b) better provision by scientists of ‘policy-ready’ information on existing priorities, emerging issues and scientific/technological advances relevant to environmental protection. The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) has a long and successful record of summarizing policy-relevant scientific knowledge to policy makers, such as through its Group of Specialists on Environmental Affairs and Conservation (GOSEAC) up to 2002, currently the SCAR Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SCATS) and recently through its involvement in the Antarctic Environments Portal. Improvements to science-policy communication mechanisms, combined with purposeful consideration of funding opportunities for policy-relevant science, would greatly enhance international policy development and protection of the Antarctic environment

Interacción humano-robot en el contexto de la computación afectiva asociando estados emocionales al comportamiento de un robot

Se presentan los resultados preliminares del desarrollo de un framework de interacción emocional Humano-Robot que contribuye con la configuración de estados emocionales, del tipo de robot (físicos o virtual) y sus acciones asociadas en respuesta al estado emocional. Para este proyecto, se trabajó en la integración de distintos sistemas entre ellos se destaca el software Emotion Detection Asset, que se encargará de reconocer emociones a través de expresiones faciales, capturadas por medio de una webcam o de una imagen importada desde un archivo; interfase de usuario por cuál se puede realizar diferentes configuraciones; robots físicos (Roboreptile) y/o virtuales, para la representación o ejecución de acciones en respuesta a las emociones capturadas del humano, finalmente se realizan pruebas con software de reconocimiento de emociones propietario. En la primera sección “introducción” se presentan las características generales del área de computación afectiva, enfoque categórico de emociones, modelos multimodales y unimodales, emociones, finalmente se presenta una síntesis comparativa de los trabajos específicos de emociones y robots. En la segunda sección se presenta sintéticamente el problema, en la tercera sección se plantea la solución desarrollada, en la cuarta sección se presentan las pruebas preliminares, finalmente en la quinta sección se enuncian las conclusiones y futuras líneas de trabajo.XV Workshop Innovación en sistemas de Software (WISS)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic

Criterios de diseño para un sistema de reutilización de aguas grises

The use of natural resources is essential in human life; however, their proper management and development have not been given significant importance until recent years, as we face the current problems of meeting our needs. Considering the difficulty of scarcity and poor management of the vital resource, water, urgent measures must be taken to mitigate the bad results, supported by the development of new techniques, methodologies, and technologies to obtain good practices, incentivizing the well-being of humanity towards future generations. The following article considers the importance of design criteria by the client for the development of a prototype design for the collection and reuse of graywater from washing systems in a social housing unit, as well as its correct immersion into the problem presented in the process by incorporating the use of steps and tools established in the design thinking methodology for the proper design development.El uso de recursos naturales es imprescindible en la vida de la humanidad, sin embargo, su correcta gestión y desarrollo no ha tenido una relevancia hasta los últimos años, haciendo frente a los recientes problemas para satisfacer las necesidades. Por lo que, teniendo en cuenta la dificultad de la escazes y la mala gestión que se realiza del recurso vital, el agua, se debe tomar medidas necesarias ya urgentes para mitigar los malos resultados, apoyado en el desarrollo de nuevas tecnicas, metodologìas y tecnologías para obtener buenas prácticas, incentivando el bien de la humanidad hacia generaciones futuras. El siguiente artículo considera la importancia que tiene los criterios de diseño por parte del cliente para el desarrollo del diseño de un prototipo para la recolección y reutilizacion de aguas grises provenientes de los sistemas de lavado en una casa de interes social, así como su correcta inmersión a la problemática que se presenta en el proceso ya realizado inconroporando el uso de los pasos y herramientas establecidos en la metodologia design thinking para el correcto desarrollo de diseño

Papel de los estimulantes de eritropoyesis en la anemia neonatal

Anemia is a pathology commonly found in the neonatal population, due to a series of physiological and non-physiological risk factors that contribute to the development of the disease. Among the variants is hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, which is considered the most frequent cause of anemia in this population. The bibliographic review was carried out in databases such as Medline, Science Direct and Lilacs until august 2020. The search and selection of the articles was done through the presence of the following MeSH terms: Anemia, Neonatal; Erythroblastosis, Fetal; Erythropoietin. Treatment of anemia includes transfusion of red blood cells and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; the use of recombinant human erythropoietin as part of treatment has been widely discussed and controversial. However, there are studies that show that its use reduces the need for blood transfusions.La anemia es una patología comúnmente encontrada en la población neonatal; es secundaria a una serie de factores de riesgo fisiológicos y no fisiológicos que contribuyen a su desarrollo. Entre sus variantes se encuentra la enfermedad hemolítica del feto y el recién nacido, la cual es considerada la causa más frecuente de anemia en dicha población. Se realizó la revisión bibliográfica en las bases de datos Medline, Science Direct y Lilacs hasta agosto de 2020. En la búsqueda y selección de los artículos se usaron los términos MeSH: anemia neonatal, eritroblastosis fetal y eritropoyetina. Para el tratamiento de dicha patología se dispone de  a transfusión de glóbulos rojos y los agentes estimulantes de la eritropoyesis; el uso de eritropoyetina humana recombinante como parte del tratamiento ha sido ampliamente discutido y controvertido, no  bstante, hay estudios que demuestran que su uso reduce la necesidad de transfusiones sanguíneas

Evaluation of the consumption of two integral diets for psittacines in captivity in a wildlife rescue unit

Objective To evaluate the consumption of nutrient intake in a traditional diet and a proposed diet for parrots in captivity. Design/methodology/approach The study was carried out in Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico. Twelve parrots were used in captivity. The traditional diet (TD) provided to the birds was evaluated and a proposed diet (PA) was alternative. The consumption and the amount of waste of each diet were recorded for 5 weeks. PA was formulated with fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Data were analyzed by Student's t test to significance of 0.5. Results TD lacked homogeneity in the ingredients offered during the five weeks of study. There were significant differences in consumption between the 2 diets evaluated. The individual consumption of each bird was 349 g for TD and 314 g for PA. The TD had 41.87% was of fruits and 58.12% of vegetables. The PA included supplementation with seeds. From the second to the fifth week there was less waste in the PA. Limitations of the study The age, weight, sex and collection of excreta of the parrots were not registered, due to the restriction rules of the conservation area. Findings/conclusions The PA offered the requirements that parrots need. It is necessary to train technical personnel in the preparation of diets. Feeding frequencies and food diversity stimulated consumption and decreased waste, improving the nutritional balance of birds in captivity.Objective: To evaluate the consumption of nutrients intake in a traditional and aproposed diet for parrots in captivity.Design / methodology / approach: The study took place at Pachuca de Soto,Hidalgo, Mexico. Twelve parrots were assessed in captivity. The traditional diet(TD) provided to the birds was evaluated and a proposed diet (PD) was thealternative. The consumption and the amount of waste of each diet were recordedfor five weeks. PD formula contained fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Data wereanalyzed with the Student's t-test at p< 0.5 significance.Results: TD lacked homogeneity in the ingredients offered during the five weeksevaluation. There were significant differences in the consumption between the two 2 evaluated diets. The individual bird consumption was 349 g for TD and 314 g forPD. The TD was 41.87% fruits and 58.12% vegetables. The PD diet includedseeds supplements. From the second to the fifth week of the evaluation PD hadless waste.Limitations of the study: The age, weight, sex and excreta collection from theparrots were not registered due to restriction rules in the conservation area.Findings / conclusions: The PD offered the requirements that parrots need. It isnecessary to train technical personnel on diet preparation. Feeding frequenciesand food diversity stimulated consumption and waste decreased, improving thenutritional balance of the birds in captivity

Heterokaryon Incompatibility Is Suppressed Following Conidial Anastomosis Tube Fusion in a Fungal Plant Pathogen

It has been hypothesized that horizontal gene/chromosome transfer and parasexual recombination following hyphal fusion between different strains may contribute to the emergence of wide genetic variability in plant pathogenic and other fungi. However, the significance of vegetative (heterokaryon) incompatibility responses, which commonly result in cell death, in preventing these processes is not known. In this study, we have assessed this issue following different types of hyphal fusion during colony initiation and in the mature colony. We used vegetatively compatible and incompatible strains of the common bean pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in which nuclei were labelled with either a green or red fluorescent protein in order to microscopically monitor the fates of nuclei and heterokaryotic cells following hyphal fusion. As opposed to fusion of hyphae in mature colonies that resulted in cell death within 3 h, fusions by conidial anastomosis tubes (CAT) between two incompatible strains during colony initiation did not induce the vegetative incompatibility response. Instead, fused conidia and germlings survived and formed heterokaryotic colonies that in turn produced uninucleate conidia that germinated to form colonies with phenotypic features different to those of either parental strain. Our results demonstrate that the vegetative incompatibility response is suppressed during colony initiation in C. lindemuthianum. Thus, CAT fusion may allow asexual fungi to increase their genetic diversity, and to acquire new pathogenic traits

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being(1,2), addressing the global biodiversity crisis(3) still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature's diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever(4). Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature's values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)(5) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals(6), predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature(7). Arguably, a 'values crisis' underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change(8), pandemic emergence(9) and socio-environmental injustices(10). On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature's diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions(7,11). Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being1,2, addressing the global biodiversity crisis3 still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever4. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature’s values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)5 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals6, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature7. Arguably, a ‘values crisis’ underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change8, pandemic emergence9 and socio-environmental injustices10. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature’s diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions7,11. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Respuesta immune humoral asociada a las vacunas contra SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con artritis reumatoidea: datos del registro SAR-CoVAC

Introducción: la artritis reumatoidea (AR) y los tratamientos indicados para su manejo pueden afectar la respuesta a la vacuna para SARS-CoV-2. Sin embargo, aún no se cuenta con datos locales. Objetivos: evaluar la respuesta humoral de la vacuna para SARS-CoV-2 y su seguridad en esta población. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional. Se incluyeron pacientes ≥18 años, con AR ACR/EULAR 2010 que recibieron la vacunación para SARS-CoV-2