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RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 nas doações de córnea e na atuação de um banco de olhos na região da Zona da Mata Mineira. Métodos: Análise retrospectiva de prontuários de todas as doações obtidas pelo Banco de Olhos Hospital Regional Dr. João Penido, de Juiz de Fora (MG), entre 2017 e 2022, comparando-se os períodos pré (janeiro de 2017 a 11 de março de 2020) e pós-pandemia (12 de março de 2020 a dezembro de 2022). Resultados: Verificou-se uma redução nas doações de córnea e no número de tecidos corneanos liberados para transplantes no período pós pandemia, 68,2 e 67,3% respectivamente. Não houve diferença estatística no sexo, idade média, causa básica de óbito dos doadores, nos números de globos oculares não preservados e de córneas não preservadas entre os períodos pré e pós-pandemia. As taxas de liberação de córneas preservadas e aproveitamento das doações foram maiores no período pós-pandemia: 86,5 versus 79,0% e 68,1 versus 63,0%, respectivamente. O número de tecidos corneanos liberados para transplantes óptico e tectônico foram estatisticamente maiores no período pré-pandemia (p

Immobilizing different enzymes on membranes can result in biocatalytic active membranes with a self-cleaning capacity toward a complex mixture of foulants. The membrane modification can reduce fouling and enhance filtration performance. Protease, lipase, and amylase were immobilized on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) microfiltration membranes using a polydopamine coating in a one-step method. The concentrations of polydopamine precursor and enzymes were optimized during the immobilization. The higher hydrolytic activities were obtained using 0.2 mg/mL of dopamine hydrochloride and 4 mg/mL of enzymes: 0.90 mgstarch/min·cm2 for amylase, 10.16 nmoltyrosine/min·cm2 for protease, and 20.48 µmolp-nitrophenol/min·cm2 for lipase. Filtration tests using a protein, lipid, and carbohydrate mixture showed that the modified membrane retained 41%, 29%, and 28% of its initial water permeance (1808 ± 39 L/m2·h·bar) after three consecutive filtration cycles, respectively. In contrast, the pristine membrane (initial water permeance of 2016 ± 40 L/m2·h·bar) retained only 23%, 12%, and 8%. Filtrations of milk powder solution were also performed to simulate dairy industry wastewater: the modified membrane maintained 28%, 26%, and 26% of its initial water permeance after three consecutive filtration cycles, respectively, and the pristine membrane retained 34%, 21%, and 7%. The modified membrane showed increased fouling resistance against a mixture of foulants and presented a similar water permeance after three cycles of simulated dairy wastewater filtration. Membrane fouling is reduced by the immobilized enzymes through two mechanisms: increased membrane hydrophilicity (evidenced by the reduced water contact angle after modification) and the enzymatic hydrolysis of foulants as they accumulate on the membrane surface.

Long-range frequency hopping spread spectrum (LR-FHSS) is a pivotal advancement in the LoRaWAN protocol that is designed to enhance the network’s capacity and robustness, particularly in densely populated environments. Although energy consumption is paramount in LoRaWAN-based end devices, this is the first study in the literature, to our knowledge, that models the impact of this novel mechanism on energy consumption. In this article, we provide a comprehensive energy consumption analytical model of LR-FHSS, focusing on three critical metrics: average current consumption, battery lifetime, and energy efficiency of data transmission. The model is based on measurements performed on real hardware in a fully operational LR-FHSS network. While in our evaluation, LR-FHSS can show worse consumption figures than LoRa, we find that with optimal configuration, the battery lifetime of LR-FHSS end devices can reach 2.5 years for a 50 min notification period. For the most energy-efficient payload size, this lifespan can be extended to a theoretical maximum of up to 16 years with a one-day notification interval using a cell-coin battery.

RESUMO O desenvolvimento de habilidades de programação de computadores é relevante em diversos contextos educacionais. As atividades práticas maker, de robótica e solução de problemas por projetos trazem resultados importantes para alunos que participam desses tipos de atividade. Entretanto, mesmo com tecnologias acessíveis, como o Arduino e o ESP8266, os custos e a dificuldade de instalação podem restringir o acesso a esses recursos educacionais. Nesse sentido, o Projeto Block Based Integrated Platform for Embedded Systems (BIPES) foi concebido no início do ano de 2020 com o objetivo de facilitar essas atividades, oferecendo recursos como programação por blocos, suporte a vários dispositivos embarcados e a flexibilidade de dispensar a instalação e configuração de qualquer software adicional. Este artigo descreve os aspectos operacionais do Projeto BIPES e apresenta alguns resultados do seu uso em oficinas e outras atividades. Atualmente, o projeto conta com mais de 10 mil usuários.

The historical meeting between originally American people, European colonizers, and slaved peoples from Africa in the biome Pampa in South Brazil and Uruguay involved a cultural syncretism and a great genetic diversity of landraces of cultivated species. Genetic richness evolved by selection and cultural processes in response to different environments, cultural backgrounds, and needs. This review summarized the knowledge on vegetable and maize landraces in South Brazilian and Uruguayan Pampa biome, to design a strategy towards the rediscovery, conservation, and sustainable use. Landraces diversity maintained in situ and ex situ is described, specific case studies are presented, and the main problems and tools towards landraces re-valorization are discussed. We show that traditional family farming systems maintain diverse vegetable species, mainly squashes (Cucurbita spp.), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), beans (Phaseolus spp.), onion (Allium cepa), peppers (Capsicum spp.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), next to leafy vegetables and maize, among others. We propose the priority of systematic surveys as a basis for monitoring genetic erosion, increasing complementariness between in situ and ex situ conservation, and implementing sustainable conservation and utilization. The case studies highlight genetic diversity within each cultivated species, with different crop physiological responses; disease resistances, different quality traits and associated uses, from animal feeding in maize to a range of culinary uses linked to traditional culture in maize and vegetable species, and ornamental uses of specific Capsicum and Cucurbita. Some landraces were the basis for breeding, where improved cultivars allowed the competitiveness of landrace germplasm in the markets. Renewed industrialized products allowed the competitive and sustainable use of Capsicum landraces in Brazilian farmers communities. Strategies towards in situ conservation improvements and valorization are discussed; emphasizing the role played by agroecology, community seed banks and custodian farmers, participatory plant breeding, promotion of landraces specialties among consumers, and the need of research and capacity building, among others. Farmers’ participation in the decisions is a key factor, along with the academia and the public sector. Landraces and associated knowledge are treasures to be used to benefit from farmers to consumers, directing the course of agriculture towards sustainable directions.

Home blood pressure management, including self-monitoring and medication self-titration, is an efficient and cost-effective tool. Although its use is increasing globally, little is known about the feasibility of such interventions in low and middle-income countries. Further, the perspectives and experiences of healthcare providers who play a big role in ensuring the success of home blood pressure management interventions have not been documented. This qualitative study was conducted with a total of 35 healthcare providers (60% female, mean [SD] age = 37.3 [6.9 years] years), through 4 in-depth interviews from Peru, and 8 in-depth interviews and 4 focus groups from Cameroon. Study participants (healthcare providers) include physicians (primary care physicians), specialists (cardiologists and geriatricians), and nurses that were purposively recruited from two hospitals in two of the largest cities in both countries. Results were thematically analyzed by two researchers. Themes derived were related to feasibility and acceptability, and largely reflected providers in both countries endorsing home blood pressure management. Providers’ concerns were in three main areas; 1) safety of patients when they self-titrate medications, 2) resources such as healthcare financing, local hospital policies that support communications with patients for home blood pressure management, and 3) sustainability through patient adherence, incorporating home blood pressure management within clinical guidelines and hospital policies, and complementing with continued health education and lifestyle modifications. According to providers, home blood pressure management may be feasible and acceptable if tailored multi-faceted protocols were introduced bearing in mind local contexts.

IntroductionElevated pulse pressure (ePP) is an independent marker of cardiovascular risk (CVR) in people older than 60, and a functional marker of subclinical target organ damage (sTOD) which can predict cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension (HTN), regardless of sTOD.ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of ePP in adult population seen in primary care and its association with other vascular risk factors, sTOD and with cardiovascular disease (CVD).Materials and methodsObservational multicentre study conducted in Spain (8,066 patients, 54.5% women) from the prospective cohort study IBERICAN recruited in Primary Care. Pulse pressure (PP) was defined as the difference between the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥60 mmHg. Adjusted (for age and sex) ePP prevalence were determined. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the possible variables associated with ePP were carried out.ResultsThe mean of PP was 52.35 mmHg, and was significantly higher (p

Resumen La co-evolución de plantas, ambientes y culturas hace posible la existencia de variedades vegetales denominadas criollas. Conservadas de forma dinámica por agricultores, constituyen elementos identitarios de las comunidades productivas en las que son mantenidas para satisfacer necesidades alimenticias, medicinales, culturales, entre otras. Esta investigación aporta evidencias empíricas para la comprensión de los procesos culturales y conocimientos tradicionales asociados al cultivo de variedades criollas, desarrollados y compartidos por agricultores familiares en tres localidades uruguayas, en un contexto de homogeneización de la agrodiversidad. A partir del análisis de entrevistas e instancias de observación, los resultados indican que existen motivos productivos, a la vez que afectivos y emocionales para la conservación in situ de decenas de variedades criollas integradas a los sistemas productivos y mundos de vida de dos tipos de agricultores: tradicionales y neorrurales. Ambos tipos de productores desarrollan conocimientos, prácticas y significados vinculados a las variedades criollas que atesoran como recursos propios en procesos de interdependencia entre naturaleza y comunidad.

AIM: To assess intraocular pressure (IOP) during the daily curve of intraocular pressure (DCPo) in keratoconic eyes and compare Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), without and with astigmatism correction (nGAT and cGAT) and Tono-Pen AVIA (TPA) assessment methods. METHODS: Thirty-nine keratoconic eyes of 24 patients were assessed. DCPo was evaluated with five IOP measurements; four were performed with a GAT (nGAT and cGAT), and a Tono-Pen AVIA (TPA) at various times throughout the day. RESULTS: Mean IOP DCPo values (mm Hg) were: nGAT, 9.9±2.6; cGAT, 11.3±2.6; TPA 12.3±3.1. Mean IOP DCPo differences (mm Hg) and Spearman's correlation coefficients were as follows: cGATc-nGAT, 1.32±1.31, rs=0.879 (PcGAT>nGAT. IOP TPA measures are predictive of cGAT values, adjusted according to anterior chamber depth and corneal astigmatism.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate structural and visual field (VF) changes after ≥1 year of a single acute primary angle closure (APAC) attack using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP). Methods: Patients with a single unilateral APAC crisis at least 1 year ago were included consecutively from 2013 to 2016. Contralateral eye was used as control. All patients underwent ophthalmic examination, RNFL imaging by SD-OCT, and SAP using Octopus 1-2-3. Results: 54 eyes (27 patients) were enrolled. Male-to-female ratio was 1:2. Mean time for the SD-OCT and SAP assessment after the crisis was 5.0±5.1 (1.0–23.5) years, and IOP was 52.5±9.8 mmHg. In APAC eyes, the thicknesses of all quadrants of peripapillary RNFL (36.3%; P

This study aimed to investigate the impact of as-received biomass fly ashes (BFA) and green liquor dregs obtained from a pulp and paper plant in Brazil as substitutes for metakaolin in geopolymeric formulations. The properties of this type of waste material vary widely between different industrial plants. This study refrains from subjecting the waste materials to any form of pretreatment, taking into account their organic matter and particle size heterogeneity, requiring extensive characterization to evaluate their influence on the compressive strength, apparent open porosity, and water absorption of the geopolymeric samples. The objective was to assess their potential for upcycling purposes as an alternative to energy-intensive materials, such as ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and advanced ceramics. This potential arises from the ability of alkali-activated materials (AAM) to undergo curing at ambient temperatures, coupled with the possibility of compositions primarily derived from waste materials. To improve the sustainability of the products, the amorphous content of the raw material, which is more reactive than crystalline phases, was quantified and used as the base for mixture ratios. This approach aimed to reduce the requirement for alkaline activators, which have significant environmental impacts, while also increasing the waste content in the formulation. The incorporation of waste materials into the geopolymer matrix generally led to a reduction in the compressive strength compared to the benchmark metakaolin sample (19.4 MPa) but did not present a trend. The dregs led to values of 4.1 MPa at 25 wt% and 7.1 MPa at 50 wt%, a behavior that is somewhat counterintuitive, and BFA at 10 wt% presented 5.7 MPa. Nevertheless, the apparent open porosity remained at high levels for all the samples, close to 50%, and the compressive strength of most of them was over the values obtained for the metakaolin-only samples with mixture ratios calculated from the total composition instead of the amorphous composition. The decrease in strength and the increase in porosity were attributed to the specific characteristics of the waste materials, such as their high crystallinity, presence of organic matter, heterogeneous particle composition, and size. Overall, this study provides insight into the variations in geopolymerization based on the bulk and amorphous content of the aluminosilicate sources and how the characteristics of the waste materials influence the geopolymer matrix. It also highlights how calculating mixture ratios based on the amorphous composition improves the possibility of waste valorization through alkali activation. Additionally, it suggests that BFA and dregs might be effectively utilized in applications other than OPC substitution, such as adsorption, filtration, and catalysis.

In the Southern Cone there is a wide variety of maize landraces kept by small-scale farmers, which are of interest for the development of the crop at a worldwide scale. The countries of this region hold important ex situ maize collections in national and international Germplasm Banks, from missions that took place before the generalization of hybrids and transgenic cultivars. In order to avoid losses of genetic diversity and to promote their use in breeding programs, it is essential that these collections are adequately known and conserved. The aim of this study was to map the geographic distribution of the collections of maize from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, and to analyze its diversity based on the variable kernel type. Information about the accessions was obtained from the catalogues of maize genetic resources. The geographic distribution, Richness and Shannon Diversity Index were mapped and analyzed using software diva-gis. Results show an important geographic dispersal of the accessions and concentration patterns of the different grain types (floury, flint, dent, pop and sweet). Micro-centres of maize diversity are observed in the Central regions of Chile and Bolivia, Southern Paraguay, Northern Argentina and Uruguay. This paper contributes with a broader understanding of maize diversity in the Southern Cone and seeks to revalue regions where traditional agriculture is still practiced, encouraging new prospection plans and in situ conservation strategies.

This article proposes the BIPES, a Block based Integrated Platform for Embedded Systems, including its architecture, design and validation results. BIPES is an open source software and service that is freely available through the website http://www.bipes.net.br and has been conceived from our experience of several years developing embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and teaching. It allows anyone to quickly and reliably design, program, build, deploy and monitor embedded systems, IoT devices and applications using blocks or Python based programming. It is fully based on web environment, so absolutely no software installation is needed on the client developer machine. In this way, a tablet, a netbook, a Chromebook or any other device can be used to program and test several types of devices. Mainly, it relies on MicroPython or CircuitPython, WebREPL, WebSockets, Web Serial API, HTML, JavaScript and Google Blockly to allow no-code programming (blocks) to be translated into Python code and then deployed to the target board. Moreover, it does not require server side processing, so it can be deployed as a Progressive Web Application (PWA), allowing it to be used even when the computer is offline. It is compatible with several low cost boards such as: mBed, BBC micro:bit, ESP8266, ESP32 and Raspberry Pi using only a web browser and without the need to install any software on the device where the user develops the programming.

Muito se argumenta que as culturas transgênicas são mais seguras e desenvolvidas de forma mais precisa que as demais sementes cultivadas. Isso porque as técnicas de biotecnologia moderna permitem que apenas genes de interesse sejam “recortados” dos organismos doadores e “colados” nas plantas receptoras. Sendo assim, a partir do ponto de vista epistemológico, buscar-se entender esses jargões emprestados da informática e sua capacidade de desvelar a dinâmica desses novos organismos e suas potenciais implicações para a saúde e o meio ambiente. Para tanto faz-se um breve histórico da evolução das ideias sobre os genes e suas funções, explorando suas implicações do ponto de vista da biossegurança e os resultados obtidos após 20 anos de uso comercial dessas plantas. Conclui-se que a indústria de sementes sustenta conceitos ultrapassados sobre genes e disso depende para justificar patentes biotecnológicas e níveis simplificados de regulação e de avaliações de risco.

Heart failure (HF) is a common but complex clinical syndrome associated with a reduced abilityof a heart to pump and/or fill with blood. We now appreciate the more complex picture involving metabolic derangements, changes in foetal gene expression and abnormalities in the periphery as forming part of the HF syndrome. Therapeutic targets include the failing myocardium,the vasculature and peripheral mechanisms. The pathophysiology of HF is currently being intensively investigated, with the identification of new relevant mechanisms, some of them emerging as potential therapeutic targets.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has standardized a new framework, called Static Context Header Compression and fragmentation (SCHC), which offers adaptation layer functionality designed to support IPv6 over Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs). The IETF is currently profiling SCHC, and in particular its packet fragmentation and reassembly functionality, for its optimal use over certain LPWAN technologies. Considering the energy constraints of LPWAN devices, it is crucial to determine the energy performance of SCHC packet transfer. In this paper, we present a current and energy consumption model of SCHC packet transfer over Sigfox, a flagship LPWAN technology. The model, which is based on real hardware measurements, allows to determine the impact of several parameters and fragment transmission strategies on the energy performance of SCHC packet transfer over Sigfox. Among other results, we have found that the lifetime of a device powered by a 2000 mAh battery, transmitting packets every 5 days, is 168 days for 2250-byte packets, while it increases to 1464 days for 77-byte packets.

In the current economic scenario of the Brazilian federal universities, it is a great challenge to acquire high resolution and high accuracy equipment for use in metrology practical classes. As an alternative, it is common the development of projects aiming the design and construction of low-cost courseware equipment. They are built within extension activities involving graduation students. This paper reports the development of two pieces of equipment for use in practical classes of the discipline “Principles of Industrial Metrology”, of the Mechanical Engineering course at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). The activity was supported by the Extension Office (ProEx) and had, as a premise, the use of low-cost materials and manufacturing processes. Within the proposed scope, a universal measuring table and a linear measuring machine were developed. The constructive process allowed to verify that the exercise of simple practices is a motivating experience for the student who was directly involved in the activity and for the students who use the produced equipment.

LoRaWAN has become a popular technology for the Internet of Things (IoT) device connectivity. One of the expected properties of LoRaWAN is high network scalability. However, LoRaWAN network performance may be compromised when even a relatively small number of devices use link-layer reliability. After failed frame delivery, such devices typically tend to reduce their physical layer bit rate by increasing their spreading factor (SF). This reaction increases channel utilization, which may further degrade network performance, even into congestion collapse. When this problem arises, all the devices performing reliable frame transmission end up using SF12 (i.e., the highest SF in LoRaWAN). In this paper, we identify and characterize the described network condition, which we call the SF12 Well, in a range of scenarios and by means of extensive simulations. The results show that by using alternative SF-management techniques it is possible to avoid the problem, while achieving a packet delivery ratio increase of up to a factor of 4.7.

This paper presents the NPi-Cluster, an energy proportional computing cluster that automatically powers ON or OFF the number of running machines according to the actual processing demand. A theoretical model is proposed, discussed, and implemented on a cluster composed of Raspberry Pi computer boards designed and built in order to test the proposed system architecture. Experimental results show adequate performance of the proposed platform when compared with other web servers running on traditional server architectures, but with considerably less power consumption. The power consumption of the entire cluster is about 14 W when running at maximum performance. In this situation, the system is able to handle more than 450 simultaneous requests, with about 1000 transactions per second, making it possible to be used as a server capable of handling real web workloads with acceptable quality of service. When the requests demand is reduced to a minimum, the power consumption is dynamically reduced until less than 2 W. Additionally, the proposed cluster architecture also provides high availability by reducing single points of failure on the system.

The purpose of the present work is to compare the mechanical properties of commercially available NiTi orthodontic archwires lots. Superelastic (SE) and heat-activated (HA) NiTi archwires from two lots of six manufacturers (3M, GAC, Tp, Orthosource, Orthometric and Morelli) were partitioned into eleven groups (n=132) and tested under three-point bending tests. The difference between the highest (151.35 gf, Tp) and lowest (98.43 gf, 3M) unloading stresses among SE groups was 53.77% (p.05), whereupon there are equivalences in wires commercial offered at different costs.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade fenotípica, a qualidade culinária e a capacidade de expansão de 85 variedades locais de milho-pipoca dos municípios de Anchieta e Guaraciaba, na região Extremo Oeste de Santa Catarina. Informações a respeito das variedades foram obtidas por meio de um questionário semiestruturado. O índice de capacidade de expansão (ICE) foi definido pela razão entre o volume da pipoca expandida e o volume inicial dos grãos (30ml). A diversidade fenotípica foi avaliada com base nas características morfológicas do grão e da espiga e na indicação do agricultor quanto à qualidade culinária da variedade. O ICE variou de 2,5 a 24,7 e diferiu significativamente (p ≤ 0,01) pelo teste F. As variedades apresentaram boa capacidade de expansão e variabilidade quanto às características fenotípicas, que, associadas à qualidade culinária, demonstram a importância desse germoplasma regional como reserva genética para os programas de melhoramento.

Sigfox has become one of the main Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies, as it has attracted the attention of the industry, academy and standards development organizations in recent years. Sigfox devices, such as sensors or actuators, are expected to run on limited energy sources; therefore, it is crucial to investigate the energy consumption of Sigfox. However, the literature has only focused on this topic to a very limited extent. This paper presents an analytical model that characterizes device current consumption, device lifetime and energy cost of data delivery with Sigfox. In order to capture a realistic behavior, the model has been derived from measurements carried out on a real Sigfox hardware module. The model allows quantifying the impact of relevant Sigfox parameters and mechanisms, as well as frame losses, on Sigfox device energy performance. Among others, evaluation results show that the considered Sigfox device, powered by a 2400 mAh battery, can achieve a theoretical lifetime of 1.5 or 2.5 years while sending one message every 10 min at 100 bit/s or 600 bit/s, respectively, and an asymptotic lifetime of 14.6 years as the message transmission rate decreases.

Más allá de la teoría política clásica, centrada en la figura del Estado como núcleo principal de atención, la posmodernidad ha venido enfocando el problema del poder desde una óptica más microfísica y relacional. Se trata de una visión disciplinaria que tiene que ver con dispositivos cada vez más abiertos de control, los cuales permean todos los ámbitos complementarios de la vida social. Se trata de mecanismos menos coercitivos que configuradores del comportamiento selectivo en los distintos ámbitos de la vida social dotada de sentido. Así, las nuevas tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación se convierten en complejos y poderosos aparatos de vigilancia panóptica, en flujos muy flexibles y multidireccionales de determinación del comportamiento selectivo. Bien contrastado con las viejas visiones centralizadas del “Gran Hermano” orweliano, este nuevo multipanoptismo opera a un doble nivel: primero, material, el de la propia vigilancia —hecha cotidiana— de la acción social; y segundo, el de la construcción simbólica de las pautas dominantes de unas segmentadoras actitudes consumistas, emergentes en el plano hiperreal e iconocrático de un nuevo sujeto esquizoide, realizado en el banal espectáculo.

Records of the occurrence of wild relatives of maize in South American lowlands are unprecedented, especially in sympatric coexistence with landraces. This fact is relevant, because regions of occurrence of wild relatives of cultivated plants should be a priority for conservation, even if they do not correspond to the center of origin of the species. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the wild relatives of maize in the Far West of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Therefore, phenotypic characterization was performed for five populations, based on 22 morphological traits deemed as fundamental for classifying the species of the genus Zea, and validated through the characterization of chromosomal knobs of two populations. The occurrence and distribution of teosinte populations were described through semi-structured interviews applied to a sample of 305 farmers. A total of 136 teosinte populations were identified; 75% of them occur spontaneously, 17% are cultivated populations, and 8% occur both ways, for the same farm. Populations that were characterized morphologically had trapezoidal fruits mostly, upright tassel branch (4-18), non-prominent main branch and glabrous glumes, with two protruding outer ribs and 8 inner ribs, on average. Cytogenetic analysis identified 10 pairs of homologous chromosomes (2n = 20) with 26 knobs, located in the terminal region of all chromosomes. The similarity of these results with the information reported in the literature indicates that the five populations of wild relatives of maize in this region of Santa Catarina belong to the botanical species Zea luxurians.

LoRaWAN is a flagship Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology that has highly attracted much attention from the community in recent years. Many LoRaWAN end-devices, such as sensors or actuators, are expected not to be powered by the electricity grid; therefore, it is crucial to investigate the energy consumption of LoRaWAN. However, published works have only focused on this topic to a limited extent. In this paper, we present analytical models that allow the characterization of LoRaWAN end-device current consumption, lifetime and energy cost of data delivery. The models, which have been derived based on measurements on a currently prevalent LoRaWAN hardware platform, allow us to quantify the impact of relevant physical and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer LoRaWAN parameters and mechanisms, as well as Bit Error Rate (BER) and collisions, on energy performance. Among others, evaluation results show that an appropriately configured LoRaWAN end-device platform powered by a battery of 2400 mAh can achieve a 1-year lifetime while sending one message every 5 min, and an asymptotic theoretical lifetime of 6 years for infrequent communication.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has gained very high momentum, as witnessed by its widespread presence in smartphones, wearables and other consumer electronics devices. This fact can be leveraged to carry out opportunistic sensor data collection (OSDC) in scenarios where a sensor node cannot communicate with infrastructure nodes. In such cases, a mobile entity (e.g., a pedestrian or a vehicle) equipped with a BLE-enabled device can collect the data obtained by the sensor node when both are within direct communication range. In this paper, we characterize, both analytically and experimentally, the performance and trade-offs of BLE as a technology for OSDC, for the two main identified approaches, and considering the impact of its most crucial configuration parameters. Results show that a BLE sensor node running on a coin cell battery can achieve a lifetime beyond one year while transferring around 10 Mbit/day, in realistic OSDC scenarios.

This article discusses a control architecture for autonomous sailboat navigation and also presents a sailboat prototype built for experimental validation of the proposed architecture. The main goal is to allow long endurance autonomous missions, such as ocean monitoring. As the system propulsion relies on wind forces instead of motors, sailboat techniques are introduced and discussed, including the needed sensors, actuators and control laws. Mathematical modeling of the sailboat, as well as control strategies developed using PID and fuzzy controllers to control the sail and the rudder are also presented. Furthermore, we also present a study of the hardware architecture that enables the system overall performance to be increased. The sailboat movement can be planned through predetermined geographical way-points provided by a base station. Simulated and experimental results are presented to validate the control architecture, including tests performed on a lake. Underwater robotics can rely on such a platform by using it as a basis vessel, where autonomous charging of unmanned vehicles could be done or else as a relay surface base station for transmitting data.