The challenge in cortical neuroprosthetic vision is determining the optimal, safe stimulation patterns for the visual cortex in order to evoke the desired perception in blind individuals - specifically, light perceptions known as phosphenes. Currently, clinical studies gain insights into the perceptual characteristics of the perceived phosphenes by asking for descriptions of provided stimulation protocols. However, the huge parameter space for multi-electrode stimulation settings makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the optimality of the stimulation patterns that lead to well-perceived phosphenes. A systematic search in the parameter space of the electrical stimulation is needed to achieve good perception. Bayesian optimization (BO) is a framework for finding optimal parameters efficiently. Using the patient's scoring of the perception as feedback, a model of the patient's response based on iteratively generated stimulation protocols can be built to maximize perception quality. A patient implanted with an intracortical 96-channel microelectrode array in their visual cortex was tested by iteratively presenting stimulation protocols, generated via BO for the first and random generation (RG) for the second experiment. Whereas standard BO methods do not scale well to problems with over a dozen inputs, we propose to optimize a set of 40 electrode currents using trust region-based BO. The generated protocols determine which electrodes are concurrently stimulated from the set and with how much current from a range of 0-50 uA, on a maximum total current constraint of 500 uA. The patient provided feedback for each stimulation based on their liking of the perception quality on a Likert scale, where a score of 7 indicated the highest quality and 0 no perception. In the BO experiment, the patient perception quality ratings gradually converged on higher values compared to the RG experiment. Similarly, gradually higher total current values were chosen by BO, in line with the observed preference of patients for higher currents due to brighter phosphenes. Finally, the electrodes that were observed to be more effective in producing phosphene perception in previous studies were gradually chosen more by BO also with the allocation of higher current values. This study demonstrates the power of BO in converging to optimal stimulation protocols based on patient feedback, providing a more efficient search for stimulation parameters for clinical studies. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

This paper describes a new approach in project portfolio selection (PPS) problems, emphasizing the need to overcome traditional deficiencies with respect to multicriteria decision-making and multiobjective optimization. While existing methods typically allow the solving of partial aspects of the PPS problem, the proposed approach seeks to provide a holistic framework dealing with aspects like interdependence between projects, interaction among criteria, the incorporation of both cardinal and ordinal information, and a hierarchical multiobjective optimization. Unlike approaches that optimize portfolios neglecting superiority of some projects, or those that only assess individual projects without considering overall portfolio performance, the proposal allows for a compromise between both objectives. A case study is given, proving the application of the proposal for developing well-balanced portfolios aligned with strategic organizational goals and stakeholder preferences. The results point to significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making, especially in complex project environments. This research contributes not only to the advancement of the theoretical framework of PPS but also to practical implications for portfolio management in a wide variety of organizational contexts.

A long-held dream by scientists has been to directly transfer information to the visual cortex of blind individuals, to restore a rudimentary form of sight. However, in spite of all the progress in neuroelectronic interfaces, the biological and engineering problems for the success of cortical implants are much more complex than originally believed, and a clinical application has not yet been achieved. We will present our recent results regarding the implantation of intracortical microelectrodes in four blind volunteers (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02983370). Our findings demonstrate the safety and efficacy of chronic intracortical microstimulation via a large number of electrodes in humans, showing its high potential for restoring functional vision in the blind. The recorded neural activity and the stimulation parameters were stable over the whole experimental period, and multiple electrode stimulation evoked discriminable patterned perceptions that were retained over time. Moreover, there was a learning process that helped the subjects to recognize several simple and complex patterns. Additionally, our results show that we can accurately predict phosphene thresholds, brightness levels, and the number of perceived phosphenes from the recorded neural signals. These results highlight the potential for utilizing the neural activity of neighboring electrodes to accurately infer and control visual perceptions.

Currently, the number of children with problems associated with mood disorders and emotion regulation is increasing. However, little is known about the development of emotional responses, especially in the developmental population. To examine the temporal dynamics of emotional neuronal activation, we presented a subset of standardized emotional pictures from the International Affective Picture System dataset to 45 children and young adult participants. Of these, 15 were children (mean age = 10.0 years, range = 7.1-12.7; 6 boys) and 30 were young adults (mean age = 23.5 years, range = 18.9-33.1; 12 men). We used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of emotion processing and measured the brain responses elicited by positive and negative images. Differences in activation patterns were studied using topographic analysis of variance. The study was conducted at Miguel Hernández University in Elche, Spain. Our results show that brain responses move from a high amplitude signal in EEG responses to positive stimuli in children to a high amplitude response to negative stimuli in adults. We confirmed lateralization to the left hemisphere in the processing of positive emotions and to the right hemisphere for negative emotions in both children and young adults. We also found differences in the amplitude of the responses to emotional images between female and male participants, although these were significant only in adults (p < .05). Our results support and expand the existing knowledge about the differing processes of emotion processing in children and adults.

The proliferation of Internet of Things and cyberphysical systems has introduced unprecedented challenges in ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of critical data, making robust security mechanisms essential. There are several mechanisms intended to assure trust with respect to the software loaded into the system and the trustworthiness of the boot process. These mechanisms start from a Root of Trust (RoT), from where all the other trusts, e.g., for components and software are derived. As part of the RoT, a Secure Storage is needed. This Secure Storage can be considered as part of the RoT or considered a separate component. After a RoT is established, a Trusted Boot can be performed. The execution of computational processes can then be supported by using separate execution zones (Zone Isolation). More complex trust functions such as remote attestation can be performed by a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). In this paper, we propose security patterns for these components. The abstraction power of patterns can be used to define the basic aspects that each of these components must have, thus serving as reference for designers and for security evaluation.

Zero Trust (ZT) has become a very hot approach for building secure systems, promoted by industry and government as a new way to produce systems with a high degree of security. ZT is based on not trusting any request for accessing resources. Because of the possibility of increasing the security of enterprise systems there has been a large amount of publication on different aspects of this strategy. It is then important to evaluate if its claims are true. We have used security patterns to design and evaluate security architectures and we apply here this method to analyze the expectations of this strategy. We relate the ideas behind ZT to the accumulated knowledge of security and attempt to answer some questions about the value and possibilities of this technology. In general, industry publications are vague about the technical aspects of these systems, ignore past security knowledge, and there are few reports describing actual experience building and using ZT architectures. Is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) the ideal architecture to build secure systems? To obtain a deeper understanding of this architecture, we analyze its pattern structure and provide a sketch of its reference architecture built as an aggregation of security patterns. As any system architecture, regardless of the way it has been constructed, represents a system, we also consider its threats. Finally, we provide directions for research on this area.

The past decade has seen a global increase in population age, especially in developed countries, where aging involves visual diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which severely affect quality of life (QoL) and mental health, as well as increase isolation and care costs. This study investigated how persons with AMD perceive the impact of technology use on their QoL, focusing on potential disparities between urban and rural contexts in Spain. Using a cross-sectional observational design, data from the 2020 National Statistics Institute’s Disability, Personal Autonomy, and Dependency Situations Survey were analyzed, focusing on QoL aspects based on the WHO items of the WHOQOL-100 scale. The results revealed a generally positive perception of technology among participants, with urban residents perceiving technology’s positive impact more favorably. Sex discrepancies in technology perception were also observed, as women exhibited a more positive outlook on technology’s influence on QoL. The analysis of QoL aspects, such as ‘Visibility’, ‘Learning’, ‘Mobility’, and ‘Domestic life’, highlighted distinct challenges faced by rural and urban populations, underscoring the importance of context-specific approaches in technology interventions. However, these perceptions were intertwined with comorbidities, which can exacerbate AMD-related issues. Furthermore, this study explored the role of technology in enhancing QoL among older adults with AMD, examining how it influences daily activities and independence, particularly in the context of AMD management. This study concluded that developing more-inclusive policies tailored to the specific needs of persons with AMD, with special attention to environmental and sex differences, is imperative to enhance the positive impact of technology on their QoL.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) represents a transformative shift in network management, where the control plane is decoupled from the data plane, leading to programmable and more efficient network behavior. While SDN offers significant advantages in terms of network flexibility and control, it also introduces new security challenges. The centralized control mechanism inherent in SDN, although advantageous for network management, presents unique vulnerabilities, making it a potential target for various cyber threats. Addressing these security concerns is crucial for the secure and reliable operation of SDN infrastructures. This article presents a security pattern for SDN considering its significant security threats and their countermeasures. In this pattern we use architectural modeling, which is a useful approach for visualizing and designing complex systems. We use an extended template to make this pattern more useful for designers trying to build secure SDNs.

Reaction time (RT) is a widely used measure for testing physical performance in motor tasks. This study focused on assessing the processing speed in athletes. Twenty-five healthy volunteers were assigned to the control (n = 16) or athletes groups (n = 9). They were evaluated during motor reaction tasks based on visual stimuli and three difficulty conditions. Physiological measures were obtained from motion capture and electromyography recordings of several muscles. Two RT phases, decision-making (DMK) and electromechanical delay (EMD), were used to analyze the processing speed. The results show significant RT differences between groups. The athletes were ~30% faster compared to the control group. Despite the fact that all participants were right-handed, RT did not show any differences between hands performances in any group. However, DMK time revealed significant differences between the hands. Controls showed a longer DMK time for the right-hand election, ~20% more than the left, while athletes showed no such disparity. These findings reveal that quantifying the decision-making component of reaction time is crucial to assessing processing speed in sport. This approach could facilitate the monitoring of adaptations in both motor–cognitive and neuromuscular processes. The theoretical implications presented in this study offer perspectives on handedness research.

Visually impaired individuals face immense challenges during navigation. A comprehensive understanding of orientation and mobility (O &M) skills would shed light on the difficulties they face and expand the scope of therapeutic interventions. Here, we aim to complement the existing metrics of performance measurement in O &M assessments by presenting the methodological implementation of body tracking using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. We video-recorded a participant navigating a line marked on the floor within an indoor environment designed to replicate real-world conditions. Utilizing the YOLOv8 neural network for human detection and tracking, we transformed raw data to determine participant locations. To assess the efficacy of our body-tracking system, we examined deviations from the designated route. We found minimal disparities and a strong positive correlation between the marked path and the tracked route. Hence, our YOLOv8-based body-tracking system accurately captures participant locations. Furthermore, we provided two practical applications of the body tracking data: first, the real-time estimation of participant speed throughout the task, and second, the precise measurement of the total path length covered. Here, we presented a body tracking implementation which can capture the precise locations of participants in complex environments. This data analysis offers insights into the dynamic interactions between individuals with vision impairments and their surroundings, complementing existing measures of Orientation and Mobility (O &M) performance with additional outcome metrics.

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), marked by evolving classifications and increasing global prevalence. Early intervention is underscored as crucial for effective management of ASD, given that emotional dysregulation is a prominent characteristic, leading to challenges in regulating and expressing emotions in a typical manner. This study aims to propose the utilization of Empatica E4 (at the physiological level) and Face tracking (at the behavioral level) as a real-time emotion detection system, exploring its potential impact on interventions based on the Pivotal Response Treatment method (PRT) for children with autism. The goal is to enhance understanding of the child's emotions, facilitate communication, strengthen emotional connections during interventions, and promote strategies for managing intense emotions. Integrating a real-time emotion detection system into PRT interventions holds promise for significantly enhancing the therapeutic process. By providing valuable insights into the child's emotional state, this approach offers a promising avenue to tailor treatments to individual needs and provide greater emotional support and social development for children with ASD.

The processing of neural signals faces significant challenges, particularly within the framework of electrophysiological recordings involving electrical stimulation. Extensive efforts have been dedicated to automating this analysis, but several aspects, such as artifact removal, still require further improvements. To address some of these challenges, we have devised a novel strategy based on waveform clustering, spike detection, artifact template matching, and advanced filtering techniques. This approach facilitates an automated workflow for neural denoising and sorting, thereby diminishing human bias and enabling automatic processing within a reasonable timeframe. To assess the efficacy of our algorithms, we conducted tests on electrophysiological recordings acquired during experiments involving electrical stimulation of the human visual cortex. The results demonstrate a strong overall performance, as evidenced by robust F1 scores. These newly developed tools are available as open source on Github .

This paper presents a general theoretical framework related with the assignment rules of ordinal classification (sorting) methods, which make use of pairwise comparisons of actions against limiting profiles (or boundaries) or subsets of representative elements of classes (characteristic profiles). The new assignment rules use both a reflexive binary relation, S , and its asymmetric part, P . The classification methods designed with the new rules fulfill a set of fundamental properties, as the ones stated for ELECTRE TRI. The conditions required to the limiting and the representative profiles are weakened by eliminating the dominance-based separability requirements of other popular pairwise classification methods. Since reflexivity is the single condition on S , many ordinal classification methods can be obtained from our proposal. Each method consists of two correlative assignment rules that have relevant symmetry and must be applied together. The "pessimistic" and "optimistic" ELECTRE TRI-nB procedures, the descending and ascending ELECTRE TRI-nC procedures, their hierarchical extensions with interacting criteria, and some recent interval extensions of these methods are basically particular cases of the generalized framework. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The growing number of older dependent population in Spain has incremented the demand for programmes and services aimed to provide support to (in)formal caregivers. Current legislation does not provide clear standardized practices for the results evaluation of such programmes which can constitute a guideline for public or private organizations, including NGOs. One strategy to successfully cope with this situation is the implementation of self-administrated questionnaires as an essential part of a cycle of continuous improvement of programmes and services. This paper is based on results from survey data collected from a sample of managers of programmes, suggests that entities using self-administrated questionnaires can, indeed, improve the effectiveness of their programmes significantly. The result of this study could contribute to the design and develop devices and software to improve care of older people and provide caregivers complementary assistance, especially, for older women.

Nanodiamonds were combined with niosome, and resulting formulations were named as nanodiasomes, which were evaluated in terms of physicochemical features, cellular internalization, cell viability and transfection ef-ficiency both in in vitro and in in vivo conditions. Such parameters were analyzed at 4 and 25 degrees C, and at 15 and 30 days after their elaboration. Nanodiasomes showed a particle size of 128 nm that was maintained over time inside the +/- 10% of deviation, unless after 30 days of storage at 25 degrees C. Something similar occurred with the initial zeta potential value, 35.2 mV, being both formulations more stable at 4 degrees C. The incorporation of nano-diamonds into niosomes resulted in a 4-fold increase of transfection efficiency that was maintained over time at 4 and 25 degrees C. In vivo studies reported high transgene expression of nanodiasomes after subretinal and intravitreal administration in mice, when injected freshly prepared and after 30 days of storage at 4 degrees C.