Suchergebnisse

Robots and autonomous systems in general are set to suffer similar cybersecurity problems that computers have been facing for decades. This is not only worrying for critical tasks such as those performed by surgical, or military robots but also for household robots such as vacuum cleaners or for teleconference robots compromise privacy and safety of their owners. What will happen if these robots are hacked? This study presents a survey on the cybersecurity attacks associated with service robots, and as a result, a taxonomy that classifies the risks faced by users when using service robots, distinguishing between security and safety threads, is presented. We also present the robot software development phase as one the most relevant ones for the security of robots.

AbstractAquatic natural organic matter (NOM) is composed of a large variety of compounds. In this study, NOM from Uzquiza Reservoir in Burgos (Spain) was fractionated using a resin adsorption procedure, and three humic substances – natural fulvic and humic acids (NFA and NHA, respectively) extracted from the mentioned reservoir and a commercially supplied humic acid (CHA) – were characterized by molecular weight (MW) distribution, elemental composition, organic acidity and ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that Uzquiza Reservoir NOM is mainly composed of fulvic acids (45%) and low MW hydrophilic acids (27%). MWs obtained are in the following order: CHA (4500 Da)>NHA (2500 Da)>NFA (1000 Da). Both humic acids (CHA and NHA) have the highest specific UV absorbance values (SUVA, an aromaticity indicator) whereas NFA shows a higher total and carboxylic acidity, which is in accordance with its higher solubility in water. Infrared spectra confirm these results.

Tourism has become an essential activity for the economies of developing island destinations. Few studies have focused on the influence of community attachment and personal benefits on residents' perceptions of impacts and support for tourism in these areas. Moreover, many previous studies have yielded ambivalent results on the role of community attachment. In the present study, based on social exchange theory, we tested a theoretical model that analyses these aspects in a socio-economic context such as the Cape Verde archipelago with a strong impact of emigration, where community attachment or the personal benefits produced by tourism can help explain the level of residents' support. Quantitative research was carried out through a survey of residents and 518 valid responses were obtained. The model was tested using structural equations with PLS. The results suggest that personal benefits influence both directly and indirectly, through perceptions of tourism impacts, and residents' support for tourism. It is also found that community attachment influences residents' perceptions of tourism impacts. Theoretical and practical implications of the results obtained are also discussed.

ABSTRACTThe growing importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in today's competitive business climate is well known. CSR is particularly important for firms in sectors characterised by their close ties with their social and environmental context, especially multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in resource‐rich developing countries and, more specifically, in the oil sector. Numerous question marks surround the extent to which oil MNEs really contribute, through CSR activities, to sustainable development in these countries. Based on a case study, this paper examines the adoption of an environmental management system (EMS) in Luanda Oil Refinery in Angola. The results illustrate the potential of CSR, when integrated into MNE business strategy, to improve the social and environmental situation of such countries, due not only to its impact on the company's immediate surroundings but on the wider legislative, administrative and entrepreneurial context also. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

AbstractThis paper analyses a microcredit programme that was developed in a rural area of Venezuela, a standard‐bearer for left‐wing movements in Latin America, after significant initial support from the public sector disappeared. The findings indicate high levels of stability for the microfinance organisations: the number of shares, the volume of savings and the amount of the loans granted had all increased, with low levels of loan default. However, significant organisational deterioration and a reduction in the social and environmental impact in the community were also observed, aspects that point to a need to rethink institutional support in these areas. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cisplatin and derivatives are commonly used as chemotherapeutic agents. Although the cytotoxic action of cisplatin on cancer cells is very efficient, clinical oncologists need to deal with two major difficulties, namely the onset of resistance to the drug and the cytotoxic effect in patients. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate factors influencing the response to cisplatin in multicellular organisms. In this hermaphroditic model organism, we observed that sperm failure is a major cause of cisplatin-induced infertility. RNA sequencing data indicate that cisplatin triggers a systemic stress response, in which DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/NRF2, two conserved transcription factors, are key regulators. We determined that inhibition of the DNA damage-induced apoptotic pathway does not confer cisplatin protection to the animal. However, mutants for the pro-apoptotic BH3-only gene ced-13 are sensitive to cisplatin, suggesting a protective role of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Finally, we demonstrated that our system can also be used to identify mutations providing resistance to cisplatin and therefore potential biomarkers of innate cisplatin-refractory patients. We show that mutants for the redox regulator trxr-1, ortholog of the mammalian thioredoxin reductase 1 TRXR1, display cisplatin resistance. By CRISPR/Cas9, we determined that such resistance relies on the presence of the single selenocysteine residue in TRXR-1. ; This study was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; PI15/00895 to J.C., PI16/01898 to A.V.), which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund/FEDER. The A.V. laboratory was also supported by funding from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BFU2007-67123). M.B. was supported by a Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) chemical sciences ECHO grant (711.014.005). E.N. was supported a Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM) grant for emerging research groups. F.J.G.-R. was the recipient of a PFIS predoctoral fellowship from ISCIII. A.M.-V. was supported by a grant from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BFU2015-64408-P, co-financed by the European Social Fund) and is a member of the EU-ROS Cost Action of the European Union. J.C., M.B., S.H. and A.M.-V are members of the GENIE EU Cost action. D.B. was recipient of a Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología 'al extranjero' fellowship (523048). ; Peer reviewed

Human errors are the cause of most traffic accidents, with drivers' inattention and wrong driving decisions being the two main sources. These errors can be reduced, but not completely eliminated. That is why Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can reduce the number, danger and severity of traffic accidents. Several ADAS, which nowadays are being researched for Intelligent vehicles, are based on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics technologies. In this article a research platform for the implementation of systems based on computer vision is presented, and different visual perception modules useful for some ADAS such as Line Keeping System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pedestrian Protector, or Speed Supervisor, are described. ; This work was supported in part by the Spanish government under CICYT grant TRA2004-07441-C03-01.