Julio Guillen-Garcia

As the demand for expansive back-end systems in online applications continues to grow, novel frameworks are necessitated to address the escalating operational demands, energy consumption, and associated costs. Traditional Client–Server models, while offering centralized security and reliability, are characterized by their high deployment and maintenance expenses. Conversely, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) models, despite being cost-effective and scalable, are hindered by inherent security and data integrity challenges. Moreover, the lack of a central authority in P2P systems complicates a definitive resolution of scenarios involving stakes, where users cannot withdraw without incurring a tangible loss. In this research work, a hybrid back-end framework is introduced, combining the advantages of both models through the utilization of cryptographic algorithms and Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) protocols. The baseline solution is lightweight and fully composable, making it capable of utilizing different more complex slot-in MPC techniques. The proposed framework’s effectiveness is demonstrated through a simplified two-player Spades game, although it is fully generalizable to any application. Evaluations across multiple case studies reveal substantial performance enhancements compared to conventional approaches, particularly post-initialization, highlighting the scheme’s potential as a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and secure solution for modern online applications.

Presentation attacks are one of the many dangers facing law enforcement today. In addition, material science is constantly advancing and criminals, aware of this fact, are taking advantage of new composites to manufacture new artifacts that allow them to cross borders by breaching border control points. This article presents the creation of several presentation attacks using make-up, hyper-realistic latex, and prosthetic masks. It is worth noting that such attacks do not receive adequate attention, due to the difficulty in their elaboration. The work of professionals in the make-up sector is required. Each stage of processing is analyzed for any artifacts that would facilitate the detection of the attack, using a multispectral approach in the visible and thermal spectra. The methodology evaluates three different face recognition systems (FRS), the different stages of impersonation, i.e. when a specific part of the face such as nose, cheekbones, jaw, or eyes is incorporated. The results show that certain parts of the face improve impersonation and make it more difficult for the algorithms to detect possible impersonation. However, other parts of the face, such as the jaw, not only do not improve impersonation but also significantly worsen performance. Using OpenFace as an FRS example, which is one of the FRS employed in this research work, the bonafide comparison of the target yields a score of 0.304, while with the make-up attack before applying make-up to the jaw, it gives 0.291, and after applying make-up, it gives 0.421.

A problem of current interest is how to emulate nature by acquiring information in a neuromorphic-like fashion; namely, by using configurable hardware and electronic systems to emulate the information gathering and processing strategies of biological systems. In this paper, we introduce BioCAMSHIFT, an algorithm for a bio-inspired system that acquires information via a neuromorphic process and uses it to track multiple objects. The system consists of a silicon retina that simulates the behavior of the human eye together with a communication system that uses an Address-Event Representation protocol to transmit information in a way analogous to that of biological neural systems. An unsupervised procedure, based on the CAMSHIFT algorithm, is then used for multi-object tracking. It takes advantage of the retina’s high event rate to adapt to the changing sizes of the objects in its field of view. The proposed system has been experimentally validated using a data set from Freeway 210 in Pasadena, California, demonstrating a significantly better improvement in terms of multi-vehicle detection and tracking performance over the current state of the art.

This paper proposes a theoretical framework that defines a generic and universal structure for Final Degree Projects in the area of Information and Communication Technologies that aims to be a formative element in itself, offering students a structured approach to successfully complete their projects, applying and developing their computational skills and information literacy competencies acquired during their formal university education.