Long Range Low Power Wireless Communication Technologies for the IoT

The Internet of Things addresses a huge set of possible application domains, requiring both short- and long-range communication technologies. When long distances are present, a number of proprietary and standard solutions for Low Power Wide Area Networks are already available. Among them, LoRaWAN and NB-IoT are candidate technologies supported by many network operators. LoRaWAN is one of the first technologies defined to operate in unlicensed bands. Its simple access protocol is designed to avoid complexity and costs while maximising the transmission range. The proprietary modulation used is very robust with respect to the interferers present in the shared bands used. NB-IoT is a new radio access technology targeting a large set of use cases for massive machine-type communications standardised by the 3GPP. NB-IoT has been enhanced in terms of coverage and power saving capabilities while reducing the complexity at the same time. In this thesis, first, many typical applications that may benefit from these technologies are presented, with a focus on the performance metrics and the definition of the scenario and traffic pattern. Secondly, the LoRaWAN technology is assessed both experimentally and through simulations, to characterise it from the link-level and system-level viewpoint, with the target of estimating the capacity of a LoRaWAN gateway and a multi-gateway network to serve a large area. Then, this thesis provides an overview of NB-IoT, together with a mathematical model of the network able to predict the maximum performance in a given scenario with a specific configuration of some design parameters. This model is used to study how these parameters affect the overall performance and how the optimal configuration may be chosen according to arbitrary criteria. Finally, some projects and practical activities are presented to prove the need for these standards, and to share the know-how that was developed during these studies

Smart city pilot projects using LoRa and IEEE802.15.4 technologies

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), through wireless communications and the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm, are the enabling keys for transforming traditional cities into smart cities, since they provide the core infrastructure behind public utilities and services. However, to be effective, IoT-based services could require different technologies and network topologies, even when addressing the same urban scenario. In this paper, we highlight this aspect and present two smart city testbeds developed in Italy. The first one concerns a smart infrastructure for public lighting and relies on a heterogeneous network using the IEEE 802.15.4 short-range communication technology, whereas the second one addresses smart-building applications and is based on the LoRa low-rate, long-range communication technology. The smart lighting scenario is discussed providing the technical details and the economic benefits of a large-scale (around 3000 light poles) flexible and modular implementation of a public lighting infrastructure, while the smart-building testbed is investigated, through measurement campaigns and simulations, assessing the coverage and the performance of the LoRa technology in a real urban scenario. Results show that a proper parameter setting is needed to cover large urban areas while maintaining the airtime sufficiently low to keep packet losses at satisfactory levels

IoT protocols, architectures, and applications

The proliferation of embedded systems, wireless technologies, and Internet protocols have made it possible for the Internet-of-things (IoT) to bridge the gap between the physical and the virtual world and thereby enabling monitoring and control of the physical environment by data processing systems. IoT refers to the inter-networking of everyday objects that are equipped with sensing, computing, and communication capabilities. These networks can collaborate to autonomously solve a variety of tasks. Due to the very diverse set of applications and application requirements, there is no single communication technology that is able to provide cost-effective and close to optimal performance in all scenarios. In this chapter, we report on research carried out on a selected number of IoT topics: low-power wide-area networks, in particular, LoRa and narrow-band IoT (NB-IoT); IP version 6 over IEEE 802.15.4 time-slotted channel hopping (6TiSCH); vehicular antenna design, integration, and processing; security aspects for vehicular networks; energy efficiency and harvesting for IoT systems; and software-defined networking/network functions virtualization for (SDN/NFV) IoT

PERFIL HEMATO-LABORATORIAL DE PACIENTES COVID-19 NO EXTREMO SUL CATARINENSE/BRASIL

To assess the clinical and laboratory profile of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Descriptive retrospective observational study, collecting secondary data from medical records of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between January and June 2021 at a high-complexity hospital in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The study population consisted of a total of 497 patients, with a mean age of 59.2 years and a standard deviation of 15.44, with a predominance of male patients (55.3%). The most prevalent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (23.54%) and arterial hypertension (35.01%). The main clinical outcome was discharge (62.8%). Regarding laboratory tests, patients initially showed elevated inflammatory markers and leukocytosis. During hospitalization, they developed anemia, thrombocytopenia, improvement in inflammatory markers, and maintained leukocytosis. In this context, patients may present laboratory abnormalities, particularly a pro-inflammatory state and chenges in hematimetric parameters, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis. Therefore, the data presented in this study can contribute to a better understanding and confirmation of the multiple effects of the virus on the human body, especially concerning the hematopoietic system.Verificar o perfil clínico e laboratorial de pacientes internados por COVID-19. Estudo observacional descritivo retrospectivo, com coleta de dados secundários de prontuários de pacientes internados por COVID-19 no período de janeiro a junho de 2021 em um hospital de alta complexidade no município de Criciúma/SC. A população estudada constituiu um total de 497 pacientes, sendo a média de idade de 59,2 anos com desvio padrão de 15,44 e predomínio do sexo masculino (55,3%). Em relação às comorbidades, as mais prevalentes foram diabetes mellitus (23,54%) e hipertensão arterial (35,01%). O principal desfecho clínico foi a alta (62,8%). Quanto aos exames laboratoriais, os pacientes inicialmente apresentaram elevação das provas inflamatórias e leucocitose. E no decorrer da internação, desenvolveram anemia, plaquetopenia e melhora das provas inflamatórias, além de manter a leucocitose. Nesse âmbito, pode-se encontrar alterações laboratoriais nos pacientes, com destaque para o estado pró-inflamatório para os parâmetros hematimétricos. Portanto, os dados apresentados no presente estudo podem contribuir para a melhoria do entendimento e confirmação acerca dos múltiplos efeitos do vírus sobre o corpo humano, especialmente no que tange o sistema hematopoiético

O MANEJO DE PACIENTES EM CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS NA EMERGÊNCIA POR QUEIXAS RELACIONADAS OU NÃO A TERMINALIDADE: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

The purpose of the article is to review the application of the palliative approach inemergency care departments. For this, a literature review was carried out through thePubMed database with the following descriptors "palliative” and "emergency"according to Medical Subject Headings (MESH). After reading the title and abstract,the incompatible articles with the objective were excluded, and in addition to thiscriteria, articles published from 2015 were selected. Finally, 9 articles were selectedfor analysis, which occurred from reading them in full. The analyzed articles showedthe helpless size that patients who are under palliative care when they seekemergency services with the aim of managing the symptoms of the underlyingdisease and its complications.This is due to the lack of understanding by emergencyphysicians of the conduct and possible management of patients undergoing palliativecare. As well as the precarious services available in the health care network and thelack of multidisciplinary teams with this approach to provide well-being to patientsand their families. In view of this, the need for implementation and preparation ofprofessionals to deal with care for patients in palliative care in the emergency contextis evident, as the lack of this care provides an environment of suffering, both forpatients and their families.O objetivo deste artigo é revisar a aplicação da abordagem paliativa nosdepartamentos de pronto atendimento. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão deliteratura através da base de dados PubMed com a escolha dos seguintesdescritores "palliative” and "emergency" de acordo com Medical Subject Headings(MESH). Após a leitura do título e do resumo, os artigos incompatíveis com oobjetivo foram excluídos, e somado a esse critério, foram selecionados artigospublicados a partir de 2015. Por fim, foram selecionados 9 artigos para análise, aqual ocorreu a partir da leitura destes na íntegra. Os artigos analisados evidenciaramo tamanho desamparado que se encontram os pacientes que estão sobre cuidadospaliativos ao procurarem os serviços de emergência com o objetivo do manejo dossintomas da doença de base e de suas complicações. Isto se deve pela falta decompreensão pelos emergencistas das condutas e manejos possíveis de pacientesem paliação. Bem como, os precários serviços disponíveis na rede de atenção àsaúde e a inexistência de equipes multidisciplinar com esta abordagem parapropiciar bem-estar aos pacientes e seus familiares. Diante disso, fica evidente anecessidade da implementação e preparo dos profissionais para lidar comatendimentos de pacientes em cuidados paliativos no âmbito emergencial, pois afalta desse atendimento propicia um ambiente de sofrimento, tanto para os pacientesquanto para seus familiares

Progetto e implementazione di un decodificatore ldpc su architettura gpu

In accordo con la filosofia della Software Defined Radio è stato progettato un decoder LDPC software che utilizza una GPU per ottenere prestazioni migliori. Il lavoro, che comprende anche l'encoder e un simulatore di canale AWGN, può essere utilizzato sia per eseguire simulazioni che per elaborare dati in real time. Come caso di studio si sono considerati i codici LDPC dello standard DVB-S2

NB-IoT Performance estimation and optimal configuration

none5siNB-IoT is a new radio access technology targeting a large set of use cases for massive machine-type communications standardized by the 3GPP. Compared to human-oriented technologies, NB-IoT has been enhanced in terms of coverage and power saving capabilities while reducing the complexity at the same time. These features allow connectivity of devices in challenging positions, enabling long battery life. This paper provides an overview of NB-IoT, together with a mathematical model of the network able to predict the maximum performance in a given scenario with a specific configuration of some design parameters. Finally, we present an analysis on how these parameters affect the overall performance and how the optimal configuration may be chosen according to arbitrary criteria.mixedLuca Feltrin, Massimo Condoluci, Toktam Mahmoodi, Mischa Dohler, Roberto VerdoneLuca Feltrin, Massimo Condoluci, Toktam Mahmoodi, Mischa Dohler, Roberto Verdon