AVENS - A Novel Flying Ad Hoc Network Simulator with Automatic Code Generation for Unmanned Aircraft System

The wireless communication has played a significant impact on our daily lives introducing simplicity and making life more comfortable. \ As a result of faster technological advances in electronics and communications, the development of different types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has become possible. \ Recently, many efforts have been made to develop more efficient inter- and intra-vehicle communication protocols introducing new challenges, e. g. multiple-UAV communication and Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs). \ However, most of the experiments using real prototypes or systems are not feasible due to the costs and risks involved. \ Thus, simulating network protocol behavior in FANET scenarios is increasingly required to evaluate the applicability of developed network protocols. \ Thereby, we have been developing AVENS, a hybrid aerial network simulation framework, which merges LARISSA Architectural Model, X-Plane Flight Simulator and OMNeT++ Discrete Event Simulator. \ In a proof-of-concept study, we highlighted its advantages. \ Using AVENS, we can advance in the state-of-the-art concerning performance evaluation of intelligent aerial vehicles and provide means to evaluate the development of protocols, codes and systems more accurately

Agronomic biofortification with selenium impacts storage proteins in grains of upland rice

© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals. Rice is one of the most commonly consumed cereals in the world, so the agronomic biofortification of cereals with Se may be a good strategy to increase the levels of daily intake of Se by the population. This study evaluated the agronomic biofortification of rice genotypes with Se and its effects on grain nutritional quality. Five rates of Se (0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 g ha−1) were applied as selenate via the soil to three rice genotypes under field conditions. RESULTS: Selenium concentrations in the leaves and polished grains increased linearly in response to Se application rates. A highly significant correlation was observed between the Se rates and the Se concentration in the leaves and grains, indicating high translocation of Se. The application of Se also increased the concentration of albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin in polished grains. CONCLUSION: Biofortifying rice genotypes using 25 g Se ha−1 could increase the average daily Se intake from 4.64 to 66 μg day−1. Considering that the recommended daily intake of Se by adults is 55 μg day−1, this agronomic strategy could contribute to alleviating widespread Se malnutrition. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Intoxicação natural por Clostridium botulinum tipo “C” em grupo de aves domésticas.

Clostridium botulinum causative oftoxic infections due to toxin ingestion previouslyformed, occur in several ingestion species, mainlybirds. In a poultry farm, located at São Paulo State,more than 3,000 birds have been attacked by thistoxic infections, when the birds showed motionless,loss of weight, accelerated, breathing, resulting indeath of the birds. The blood harvest for attainmentof the serum and later necropsy was carried outthrowgh the following samples: liver, gizzard, crop,feed, water and litter. After that, the toxin wasextracted by gelatin-phosphate buffer and inoculationin mice, isolation of the agent in Blood ágar andReinforced Clostridium ágar and neutralization oftoxin determine its type. The inoculation in miceshowed positive results in samples of liver, gizzad,crop and symptoms like was waist, and death ofthe birds by limp paralysis. The colonies that havebeen isolated, suspected of Clostridium botulinumshowed expected results and further analysisrevealed positive results to botulinical toxin type C.The farms have to pay attention in the routine jobs,choicer, and elimination of carcass because theyare essential to keep this problem away.O Clostridium botulinum, causador detoxinfecção devido à ingestão de toxina previamenteformada, acomete várias espécies com destaquepara as aves. Em uma granja do estado deSão Paulo, mais de 3000 aves foram acometidaspor esta toxinfecção, a qual foi caracterizada poranimais imóveis, dispnéicos, anoréxicos, paralisiaflácida e morte subseqüente. Foi realizada a colheitade sangue para obtenção do soro e posteriornecropsia sendo que as amostras separadas paraanálise foram: fígado, conteúdo da moela e do inglúvio,ração, água e cama. Foram realizadas extraçãode toxina em gelatina tamponada e inoculaçãoem camundongos, isolamento do agente em meioAgar Sangue, “Reinforced Clostridium ágar“ e neutralizaçãoda toxina para especificação de seu tipo.A inoculação em camundongos apresentou positividadepara amostras do fígado, conteúdo da moelae do inglúvio, pela observação de cintura de vespae morte dos animais por paralisia flácida. Colôniasisoladas suspeitas de Clostridium botulinum apresentarambioquímica compatível com a da espéciee a análise com a antitoxina revelou positividadepara toxina botulínica tipo C. A conscientização doprodutor para um bom manejo e eliminação adequadade carcaças são práticas fundamentais para evitar casos como este