Taxonomy and software architecture for real-time context-aware collaborative smart environments

The widespread of Internet of Things (IoT) and the price reduction and ubiquity of telecommunications has led to the emergence of smart environments where devices are becoming increasingly smarter and everything is connected and from which society aims to benefit. The data obtained from IoT is rapidly processed in various domains for the achievement of smart cities and societies. However, in many cases, applications are not contextualized by using data from outside the domain but are only contextualized using data from the domain itself, missing the opportunity for further contextualization. The lack of common criteria for the integration of data from different application domains is one of the main reasons that significantly hinders the integration of third-party data into real-time processing and decision-making systems and thus, the context awareness of developed applications. Although the use of several taxonomies and ontologies for context awareness in various application domains have been proposed, in many cases they are highly domain specific and/or difficult to integrate with other systems, which makes it challenging to facilitate data sharing between different systems and their processing to achieve enhanced context awareness. We aim to contribute to the addressing of these limitations through a reusable and extensible multi-domain taxonomy targeted to collaborative IoT and smart environments, which is also automatically integrated into a software architecture with real-time complex event processing technologies. The proposed solution has been illustrated through a case study and performance tests have been carried out in different computing capacity scenarios, showing its feasibility and usefulness

Paving the Way for a Real-Time Context-Aware Predictive Architecture

Internet of Things society generates and needs to consume huge amounts of data in a demanding context-aware scenario. Such exponentially growing data sources require the use of novel processing methodologies, technologies and tools to facilitate data processing in order to detect and prevent situations of interest for the users in their particular context. To solve this issue, we propose an architecture which making use of emerging technologies and cloud platforms can process huge amounts of heterogeneous data and promptly alert users of relevant situations for a particular domain according to their context. Last, but not least, we will provide a graphical tool for domain experts to easily model, automatically generate code and deploy the situations to be detected and the actions to be taken in consequence. The proposal will be evaluated through a real case study related to air quality monitoring and lung diseases in collaboration with a doctor specialist on lung diseases of a public hospital

Managing Uncertain Complex Events in Web of Things Applications

A critical issue in the Web of Things (WoT) is the need to process and analyze the interactions of Web-interconnected real-world objects. Complex Event Processing (CEP) is a powerful technology for analyzing streams of information about real-time distributed events, coming from different sources, and for extracting conclusions from them. However, in many situations these events are not free from uncertainty, due to either unreliable data sources and networks, measurement uncertainty, or to the inability to determine whether an event has actually happened or not. This short research paper discusses how CEP systems can incorporate different kinds of uncertainty, both in the events and in the rules. A case study is used to validate the proposal, and we discuss the benefits and limitations of this CEP extension.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Inhibitor of cysteine protease and mortality of Diaphorina citri.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is considered an important pest of citrus by its ability to transmit the HLB disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of protease inhibitors for the control of this insect. The tests were performed with Murraya paniculata plants. The following aqueous solutions were applied: (1) distilled water (control), (2) Triton X-100 (0.1 m L-1) and (3) cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64 (0.05 mg mL-1) and Triton X -100 (0.1 mL L-1). Four treatments were performed: solutions (1), (2) and (3) were applied four days before the release of the insects on the plants and for the last treatment, solution (3) was applied immediately before the insects release. The solutions were applied to the stem of the plant, 20 mL per plant. Were used five plants per treatment. Ten adults of D. citri were released on each plant after four hours of starvation. Each plant was maintained in a cage and mortality was observed for five days. The data was analyzed by Tukey test (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in mortality of insects among the treatments. Enzymatic analysis showed that there is enzymatic activity of cysteine p roteases in the D. citri midgut, thus, the low mortality after ingestion of this compound may indicate the need to adapt the bioassay method

Convergent adaptation of multiple herbicide resistance to auxin mimics and ALS- and EPSPS-inhibitors in Brassica rapa from North and South America

Herbicide-resistant weeds have been identified and recorded on every continent where croplands are available. Despite the diversity of weed communities, it is of interest how selection has led to the same consequences in distant regions. Brassica rapa is a widespread naturalized weed that is found throughout temperate North and South America, and it is a frequent weed among winter cereal crops in Argentina and in Mexico. Broadleaf weed control is based on glyphosate that is used prior to sowing and sulfonylureas or mimic auxin herbicides that are used once the weeds have already emerged. This study was aimed at determining whether a convergent phenotypic adaptation to multiple herbicides had occurred in B. rapa populations from Mexico and Argentina by comparing the herbicide sensitivity to inhibitors of the acetolactate synthase (ALS), 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSPS), and auxin mimics. Five B. rapa populations were analyzed from seeds collected in wheat fields in Argentina (Ar1 and Ar2) and barley fields in Mexico (Mx1, Mx2 and MxS). Mx1, Mx2, and Ar1 populations presented multiple resistance to ALS- and EPSPS-inhibitors and to auxin mimics (2,4-D, MCPA, and fluroxypyr), while the Ar2 population showed resistance only to ALS-inhibitors and glyphosate. Resistance factors ranged from 947 to 4069 for tribenuron-methyl, from 1.5 to 9.4 for 2,4-D, and from 2.7 to 42 for glyphosate. These were consistent with ALS activity, ethylene production, and shikimate accumulation analyses in response to tribenuron-methyl, 2,4-D, and glyphosate, respectively. These results fully support the evolution of the multiple- and cross-herbicide resistance to glyphosate, ALS-inhibitors, and auxinic herbicides in B. rapa populations from Mexico and Argentina

Dispositivos com Beauveria bassiana e feromônio no controle de Metamasius hemipterus em cultivos de banana.

Resumo: Metamasius hemipterus, conhecido também como falsa-broca-da-bananeira, é considerado como praga secundária no cultivo de bananeira, mas tem sido cada vez mais coletado em regiões produtoras da fruta. Métodos para controle de brocas-da-bananeira geralmente visam ao controle do moleque-da-bananeira, Cosmopolites sordidus, sendo um dos principais o controle biológico com Beauveria bassiana. O uso de fungos entomopatogênicos em iscas é uma alternativa segura e sustentável ao uso de inseticidas químicos, mas pouco se sabe sobre sua eficiência sobre M. hemipterus. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de estratégias de combate a brocas-da-bananeira sobre a população de M. hemipterus. O experimento tem sido conduzido em delineamento em blocos casualizados contento 5 blocos e 4 tratamentos: T1- Controle negativo; T2 – dispositivo liberador de feromônio (Cosmolure®) + fungo B. bassiana (CG1013); T3 – Produto comercial de B. bassiana (IBCB66) em armadilhas; e T4 – B. bassiana (CG1013) em armadilhas. A aplicação dos tratamentos é repetida a cada 35 dias em área experimental de bananeira em Pariquera-Açu, SP. Monitoramentos semanais têm sido realizados para avaliação da eficiência dos tratamentos. Os resultados mostram que M. hemipterus foi coletado em todas as áreas avaliadas e em todos os períodos, indicando crescente importância para a cultura da banana na região estudada. Houve uma redução geral na quantidade de falsas-brocas capturadas ao longo do tempo para todos os tratamentos até a terceira aplicação, mas que não parece ser devido aos tratamentos. Entretanto, este trabalho apresenta dados parciais e uma análise completa será realizada ao final do experimento.CIIC 2023. Nº 23405

Current overview and potential applications of the soil ecosystem services approach in Brazil.

A pressão humana sobre os serviços ecossistêmicos tem resultado em impactos indesejáveis sobre o bem-estar humano. Com o Projeto Millennium, várias pesquisas interdisciplinares têm sido desenvolvidas em todo o mundo com o objetivo de entender esses impactos sobre os fluxos e os processos dos ecossistemas e internalizar os custos e os benefícios dos serviços ecossistêmicos para a produção. O solo fornece muitos serviços ecossistêmicos, uma vez que sua multifuncionalidade é a base para a produção de alimentos, filtração de água, ciclagem de nutrientes e outros bens essenciais à vida. Este artigo apresenta os principais conceitos e classificações dos serviços ecossistêmicos do solo e de suas funções; os indicadores e os métodos de avaliação, modelagem e valoração dos serviços ecossistêmicos; algumas aplicações recentes para avaliar impactos de práticas de manejo agrícola sobre os serviços ecossistêmicos do solo; bem como os desafios e as oportunidades para a pesquisa e para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas relacionadas à sustentabilidade agroambiental no Brasil. Apesar de o papel do solo para prestação de serviços ecossistêmicos ainda ser subestimado, os cientistas têm gradualmente reconhecido os processos e as funções do solo como fundamentais para avaliar os serviços ecossistêmicos e os efeitos do uso e manejo da terra sobre eles. Abordagens interdisciplinares que integrem ciência e políticas públicas são necessárias para construir uma governança com base em serviços ecossistêmico

Validação em campo de estratégia atrai-infecta para o controle do moleque-da-bananeira.

Resumo: A broca-do-rizoma Cosmopolites sordidus é uma das principais pragas da bananeira e o seu controle tem sido um grande desafio para os produtores brasileiros, considerando que existe pouca variedade de produtos autorizados para esse fim. Frente à necessidade por sistemas de produção mais sustentáveis, tem sido crescente a busca por estratégias para controle biológico de pragas, principalmente com o uso de fungos entomopatogênicos. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar uma metodologia baseada em uma estratégia atrai-infecta por meio do uso combinado de feromônio Cosmolure® e o fungo entomopatogênico Beauveria bassiana (isolado CG1013) liberados através de um dispositivo biodegradável. O experimento foi montado em blocos casualizados com cinco repetições e quatro tratamentos, são eles: T1- Controle negativo; T2 – Dispositivo liberador de feromônio (Cosmolure®) + fungo B. bassiana (CG1013); T3 – Produto comercial de B. bassiana (IBCB66) em armadilhas; e T4 – B. bassiana (CG1013) em armadilhas. A aplicação dos tratamentos é repetida a cada 35 dias em uma área de plantio de banana em Pariquera-Açu, SP. Monitoramentos semanais têm sido realizados para avaliação da eficiência dos tratamentos. Verificamos até agora que indivíduos de C. sordidus foram coletados em todos os períodos avaliados, independente do tratamento aplicado, e que houve uma redução geral na quantidade de insetos capturados ao longo do tempo para todos os tratamentos até a quarta aplicação, exceto T4. O experimento encontra-se ainda em andamento e o presente trabalho apresenta dados parciais, com resultados de cinco aplicações. Uma análise completa será realizada ao final do experimento. -- Abstract: The rhizome borer Cosmopolites sordidus is one of the main pests of banana crops and its control has been a great challenge to Brazilian producers, considering that there are few products authorized for it. Therefore, there is an increased demand for more sustainable production systems and new strategies for biological pest control, mainly using entomopathogenic fungi. This work aimed to evaluate an attract-infects strategy prepared with a combined use of Cosmolure® pheromone and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana strain CG1013, released through a biodegradable device. The experiment was set up in randomized blocks with five replications and four treatments, as following: T1- Negative control; T2 – Releasing device with pheromone and B. bassiana (CG1013); T3 – Commercial product based on B. bassiana (strain IBCB66) in traps; and T4 – B. bassiana (strain CG1013) in traps. The application of the treatments has been repeated every 35 days at a banana crop area in Pariquera-Açu, SP. Weekly monitoring has been performed to evaluate the efficiency of treatments. The results showed that individuals of C. sordidus were collected in all periods evaluated, regardless of the treatment applied, and that there was a general reduction in the amount of insects captured over time for all treatments, except T4. The experiment is still in progress and this work presents partial data, with results from just five applications. A complete analysis will be performed at the end of the experiment.CIIC 2023. Nº 23401

Análisis de programas de mejora continua. Un estudio longitudinal en una empresa industrial

Las empresas han utilizado diversas herramientas que permiten que los operarios contribuyan al proceso de mejora continua. Entre las herramientas más usadas podemos destacar los sistemas de sugerencias tanto individuales como en grupo. En esta comunicación haremos un repaso de las principales características de ambos sistemas y los modos habituales de implantación. Nuestra ponencia pretende intentar responder a estas preguntas de investigación. ¿Qué resultados se derivan de la implantación de sistemas de sugerencias individuales o en grupo? ¿Cuál de los dos sistemas es más beneficioso para la empresa? ¿Qué problemas surgen durante el funcionamiento de estos programas? Para ello, analizaremos los datos de un caso de empresa industrial donde hemos recogido los datos históricos de 5 años de aplicación de un programa de mejora continua. Ambos programas han demostrado ser provechosos para la empresa, aunque las posibilidades de los sistemas de grupo parecen ser significativamente mayores

Calibration of the Logarithmic-Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA) Radio Stations at the Pierre Auger Observatory using an Octocopter

An in-situ calibration of a logarithmic periodic dipole antenna with a frequency coverage of 30 MHz to 80 MHz is performed. Such antennas are part of a radio station system used for detection of cosmic ray induced air showers at the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory, the so-called Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA). The directional and frequency characteristics of the broadband antenna are investigated using a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) carrying a small transmitting antenna. The antenna sensitivity is described by the vector effective length relating the measured voltage with the electric-field components perpendicular to the incoming signal direction. The horizontal and meridional components are determined with an overall uncertainty of 7.4^{+0.9}_{-0.3} % and 10.3^{+2.8}_{-1.7} % respectively. The measurement is used to correct a simulated response of the frequency and directional response of the antenna. In addition, the influence of the ground conductivity and permittivity on the antenna response is simulated. Both have a negligible influence given the ground conditions measured at the detector site. The overall uncertainties of the vector effective length components result in an uncertainty of 8.8^{+2.1}_{-1.3} % in the square root of the energy fluence for incoming signal directions with zenith angles smaller than 60{\deg}.Comment: Published version. Updated online abstract only. Manuscript is unchanged with respect to v2. 39 pages, 15 figures, 2 table