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IoT technologies generate intelligence and connectivity and develop knowledge to be used in the decision-making process. However, research that uses big data through global interconnected infrastructures, such as the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) for Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA), is fraught with several ethical concerns. A large-scale application of IoT operating in diverse piloting contexts and case studies needs to be orchestrated by a robust framework to guide ethical and sustainable decision making in respect to data management of AHA and IoT based solutions. The main objective of the current article is to present the successful completion of a collaborative multiscale research work, which addressed the complicated exercise of ethical decision making in IoT smart ecosystems for older adults. Our results reveal that among the strong enablers of the proposed ethical decision support model were the participatory and deliberative procedures complemented by a set of regulatory and non-regulatory tools to operationalize core ethical values such as transparency, trust, and fairness in real care settings for older adults and their caregivers.

The development of enabling technologies such as nanoelectronics, communications technologies, sensors/actuators, embedded systems, cloud networking, network virtualization and software will be essential to provide things with the capability to be connected at anytime, anywhere. This development provides a bright future for Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things product innovations that can influence many different sectors. The IoT is a disruptive technology in the early stages of market development characterized by innovation, fragmentation, competitive and involving existing and emerging standards. In 2018, IoT-related ICs will account for about three percent of the total $348.1 billion IC market. IoT platforms are the highest, most generalized layer of intelligence and user interface, that ties together connected devices and web-based services. They collectively define a reference architecture model for the IoT, taking into consideration a wide range of technologies, communication protocols and standards.

The chapter aims at describing the cybersecurity and privacy methodologies and solutions that the architecture defined in the ACTIVAGE Large-Scale Pilot, and the corresponding implementation in nine Deployment sites should follow to secure the IoT system and protect the personal data from potential malicious cyber-attacks and threats. It further presents common definitions, methods and repeatable processes to analyse and address all potential threats in terms of cybersecurity and privacy that might occur during the exploitation phase of the project. This chapter aims to cybersecurity and privacy methodologies and solutions that the architecture defined in the ACTIVAGE Large-Scale Pilot, and the corresponding implementation in nine Deployment sites should follow to secure the IoT system and protect the personal data from potential malicious cyber-attacks and threats. The Internet and mobile revolution have transformed our world. The Internet of Things (IoT) has significantly emerged over the last few years, aiming to change our lives by forming a massive ecosystem where interconnected devices and services collect, exchange and process data in order to adapt dynamically to a context to offer a variety of services. The threats and risks related to the Internet of Things devices, systems and services are of manifold and they evolve rapidly. In an information system, the key objectives and requirements are defined to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or removal of important data or information.

There are controversial results about the role of serum leptin and adiponectin levels as biomarkers of the severity of proteinuria in lupus nephritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin and adiponectin levels with severity of proteinuria secondary to lupus nephritis (LN). In a cross-sectional study, 103 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated for kidney involvement. We compared 30 SLE patients with LN, all of them with proteinuria, versus 73 SLE patients without renal involvement (no LN). A comprehensive set of clinical and laboratory variables was assessed, including serum levels of leptin and adiponectin by ELISA. Multivariate analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders associated with proteinuria in LN. We found higher adiponectin levels in the LN group compared with the no LN group (20.4 ± 10.3 vs 15.6 ± 7.8 μg/mL; p = 0.02), whereas no differences were observed in leptin levels (33.3 ± 31.4 vs 22.5 ± 25.5 ng/mL; p = 0.07). Severity of proteinuria correlated with an increase in adiponectin levels (r = 0.31; p = 0.001), but no correlation was observed with leptin. Adiponectin levels were not related to anti-dsDNA or anti-nucleosome antibodies. In the logistic regression, adiponectin levels were associated with a high risk of proteinuria in SLE (OR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.12; p = 0.02). Instead, leptin was not associated with LN. These findings indicate that adiponectin levels are useful markers associated with proteinuria in LN. Further longitudinal studies are required to identify if these levels are predictive of renal relapse.

A high proportion of plant species is predicted to be threatened with extinction in the near future. However, the threat status of only a small number has been evaluated compared with key animal groups, rendering the magnitude and nature of the risks plants face unclear. Here we report the results of a global species assessment for the largest plant taxon evaluated to date under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria, the iconic Cactaceae (cacti). We show that cacti are among the most threatened taxonomic groups assessed to date, with 31% of the 1,478 evaluated species threatened, demonstrating the high anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity in arid lands. The distribution of threatened species and the predominant threatening processes and drivers are different to those described for other taxa. The most significant threat processes comprise land conversion to agriculture and aquaculture, collection as biological resources, and residential and commercial development. The dominant drivers of extinction risk are the unscrupulous collection of live plants and seeds for horticultural trade and private ornamental collections, smallholder livestock ranching and smallholder annual agriculture. Our findings demonstrate that global species assessments are readily achievable for major groups of plants with relatively moderate resources, and highlight different conservation priorities and actions to those derived from species assessments of key animal groups. Predictions suggest that a high proportion of plant species will be threatened with extinction in the near future. A global assessment of the threat status of cacti suggests that these iconic plants are amongst the most threatened taxonomic groups, with 31% of the 1,478 evaluated species at risk of extinction.

Background: it is known that coffee pulp can modify the oxidative status and fertility in dairy cows. Objective: to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with coffee pulp on the antioxidant capacity, lipid oxidation and reproductive characteristics of ewes during estrous synchronization and early gestation. Methods: forty Dorset-Suffolk crossbred ewes with 3 or 4 parturitions were allocated to two treatments: T0 (n = 21), ewes supplemented with 450 g of a control feed; and T1 (n = 19), ewes supplemented with 450 g of the feed with 25% coffee pulp. Supplementation began 14 days before estrous synchronization and ended 25 days after breeding. During estrous synchronization, progestogen (CIDR, Controlled Internal Drug Release) was inserted and left in situ for 11 days. Eighteen hours later, estrous detection began with the aid of rams. Blood samples were collected at different times of synchronization and during early pregnancy to determine antioxidant capacity, lipid oxidation and blood progesterone concentration. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 30 and 60 days after CIDR removal. Results: supplementation with coffee pulp did not affect estrous onset, estrous response or progesterone concentration, but fertility decreased from 100 to 78.95%. The antioxidant capacity measured using the FRAP technique was greater in coffee pulp supplemented ewes only before progestogen insertion. Coffee pulp did not modify lipid oxidation; however, this variable was affected by sampling time, decreasing after progestogen removal to its lowest values at 22 days into pregnancy. Conclusion: although supplementation with coffee pulp at 25% in the concentrate increased antioxidant capacity of ewes before insertion of progestogen, it is not recommended to use this percentage during synchronization or early pregnancy since it can negatively affect gestation rate. Antecedentes: a polpa de café pode modificar o estado oxidativo e a fertilidade em vacas leiteiras. Objetivo: avaliar a polpa de café na capacidade antioxidante, oxidação da gordura e nas características reprodutivas das ovelhas durante sincronização do estro e gestação inicial. Métodos: quarenta ovelhas cruzas Suffolk e Dorset de 3 e 4 nascimentos foram agrupadas no T0 (n = 21), suplementação com 450 g de alimento controle e T1 (n = 19), suplementação com 450 g de alimento com 25% de polpa de café. A suplementação iniciou 14 dias antes da sincronização do estro e terminou 25 dias depois do acasalamento. O hormônio progestina (CIDR, dispositivo intravaginal de libertação controlada de fármaco) foi inserido por 11 dias. Dezoito horas depois da retirada iniciouse a detecção do estro. Fizeram-se amostras de diferentes tempos do período e da gestação inicial para determinar a capacidade antioxidante, oxidação dos lipídeos e concentração de progesterona. Realizou-se o diagnóstico de gestação 30 e 60 dias depois de remover o CIDR. Resultados: a suplementação com a polpa de café não afetou o início do estro, a resposta ao estro e a concentração de progesterona, mas a fertilidade decresceu de 100 a 78,95%. A capacidade antioxidante que foi medida pela técnica de FRAP foi maior nas ovelhas suplementadas com a polpa de café somente antes da inserção do progestágeno. A polpa de café não modificou a oxidação dos lipídeos; no entanto, estes foram modificados pelo tempo de amostra, decrescendo depois de remover o progestágeno até 22 dias de gestação. Conclusão: ainda que a polpa de café a 25% de concentração incrementa a capacidade antioxidante antes da inserção do progestágeno, não é recomendado este percentual para as ovelhas durante a sincronização do estro e a gestação inicial, já que decresce a porcentagem de gestação. Antecedentes: se sabe que la pulpa de café puede modificar el estado oxidativo y la fertilidad en vacas lecheras. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos del suministro dietario de pulpa de café y su capacidad antioxidante, oxidación lipídica, y características reproductivas en ovejas durante la sincronización del estro y la gestación temprana. Métodos: cuarenta ovejas cruzadas Suffolk x Dorset de 3 y 4 partos fueron asignadas a dos grupos: T0 (n = 21), suplementación con 450 g de alimento (grupo testigo); y T1 (n = 19), suplementación con 450 g de alimento con 25% de pulpa de café. La suplementación inició 14 días antes de la sincronización del estro y terminó 25 días después del apareamiento. El progestágeno (CIDR, Dispositivo Intravaginal de Liberación Controlada) fue insertado en los animales por 11 días. Dieciocho horas después de su retiro se inició la detección de estros. Se muestreó a diferentes tiempos después de la sincronización y durante la gestación temprana para determinar capacidad antioxidante, oxidación lipídica y concentración de progesterona. El diagnóstico de preñez se realizó 30 y 60 días después de la remoción del CIDR. Resultados: la suplementación con pulpa de café no afectó el inicio del estro, la respuesta al estro ni la concentración de progesterona. Sin embargo, la fertilidad disminuyó de 100 a 78,95%. La capacidad antioxidante, medida mediante la técnica FRAP, fue mayor en ovejas suplementadas con pulpa de café, pero solo antes de la inserción del progestágeno. La pulpa de café no modificó la oxidación lipídica; sin embargo, si fue modificada por el tiempo de muestreo, decreciendo desde la remoción del progestágeno hasta los 22 días de preñez. Conclusión: aunque la suplementación del concentrado con 25% de pulpa de café incrementó la capacidad antioxidante antes de la inserción del progestágeno, no se recomienda ese porcentaje durante la sincronización y gestación temprana, ya que redujo el porcentaje de gestación de las ovejas.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of anti-TNF agents plus synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) versus DMARDs alone for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with reduced pulmonary function vital capacity (FVC%). Methods. In an observational study, we included AS who had FVC% <80% at baseline. Twenty patients were taking DMARDs and 16 received anti-TNF + DMARDs. Outcome measures: changes in FVC%, BASDAI, BASFI, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Borg scale after 6MWT, and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire at 24 months. Results. Both DMARDs and anti-TNF + DMARDs groups had similar baseline values in FVC%. Significant improvement was achieved with anti-TNF + DMARDs in FVC%, at 24 months, when compared to DMARDs alone (P=0.04). Similarly, patients in anti-TNF + DMARDs group had greater improvement in BASDAI, BASFI, Borg scale, and 6MWT when compared to DMARDs alone. After 2 years of follow-up, 14/16 (87.5%) in the anti-TNF + DMARDs group achieved the primary outcome: FVC% ≥80%, compared with 11/20 (55%) in the DMARDs group (P=0.04). Conclusions. Patients with anti-TNF + DMARDs had a greater improvement in FVC% and cardiopulmonary scales at 24 months compared with DMARDs. This preliminary study supports the fact that anti-TNF agents may offer additional benefits compared to DMARDs in patients with AS who have reduced FVC%.

There are controversial results about the role of serum leptin and adiponectin levels as biomarkers of the severity of proteinuria in lupus nephritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin and adiponectin levels with severity of proteinuria secondary to lupus nephritis (LN). In a cross-sectional study, 103 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated for kidney involvement. We compared 30 SLE patients with LN, all of them with proteinuria, versus 73 SLE patients without renal involvement (no LN). A comprehensive set of clinical and laboratory variables was assessed, including serum levels of leptin and adiponectin by ELISA. Multivariate analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders associated with proteinuria in LN. We found higher adiponectin levels in the LN group compared with the no LN group (20.4 ± 10.3 vs 15.6 ± 7.8 [mu]g/mL; p = 0.02), whereas no differences were observed in leptin levels (33.3 ± 31.4 vs 22.5 ± 25.5 ng/mL; p = 0.07). Severity of proteinuria correlated with an increase in adiponectin levels (r = 0.31; p = 0.001), but no correlation was observed with leptin. Adiponectin levels were not related to anti-dsDNA or anti-nucleosome antibodies. In the logistic regression, adiponectin levels were associated with a high risk of proteinuria in SLE (OR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.12; p = 0.02). Instead, leptin was not associated with LN. These findings indicate that adiponectin levels are useful markers associated with proteinuria in LN. Further longitudinal studies are required to identify if these levels are predictive of renal relapse.

There are controversial results about the role of serum leptin and adiponectin levels as biomarkers of the severity of proteinuria in lupus nephritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin and adiponectin levels with severity of proteinuria secondary to lupus nephritis (LN). In a cross-sectional study, 103 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated for kidney involvement. We compared 30 SLE patients with LN, all of them with proteinuria, versus 73 SLE patients without renal involvement (no LN). A comprehensive set of clinical and laboratory variables was assessed, including serum levels of leptin and adiponectin by ELISA. Multivariate analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders associated with proteinuria in LN. We found higher adiponectin levels in the LN group compared with the no LN group (20.4 ± 10.3 vs 15.6 ± 7.8 [mu]g/mL; p = 0.02), whereas no differences were observed in leptin levels (33.3 ± 31.4 vs 22.5 ± 25.5 ng/mL; p = 0.07). Severity of proteinuria correlated with an increase in adiponectin levels (r = 0.31; p = 0.001), but no correlation was observed with leptin. Adiponectin levels were not related to anti-dsDNA or anti-nucleosome antibodies. In the logistic regression, adiponectin levels were associated with a high risk of proteinuria in SLE (OR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.12; p = 0.02). Instead, leptin was not associated with LN. These findings indicate that adiponectin levels are useful markers associated with proteinuria in LN. Further longitudinal studies are required to identify if these levels are predictive of renal relapse.