As the new paradigm of data collection enabled by the advancements in wireless technology and digital electronics, small sensing devices have started to be used in everyday life. These devices are capable of sensing, computing, communicating, and forming a wireless sensor network (WSN) which is necessary to provide sensing services and to monitor various conditions. In addition to WSNs, the idea of Internet of Things (IoT) has started to draw more attention. IoT is defined as an interconnection between identifiable devices within the internet for sensing and monitoring processes. This dissertation addresses the development of wireless network and process control for two challenging IoT applications, namely smart agriculture and industrial lyophilization.<div><br><div>Smart agriculture refers to the concept of using modern technology to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural products. This dissertation presents a novel hybrid large-area IoT network by combining the low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) as well as ultra-low-power wireless personal area networks (WPAN) that delivers wide-area coverage while maintaining low-power operation. </div><div><br></div><div>Lyophilization is the process of removing water content from a material with the objective of increasing its stability and, hence, its shelf life. Continuous inline process tracking is imperative to a successful lyophilization process in industrial pharmaceuticals. To address this need, this dissertation presents two wireless sensing systems that are capable of monitoring lyophilization process with detailed design and demonstration<br></div></div>

Microorganisms will play a significant role in the agricultural revolution in the coming decades and help meet the growing population's needs. Hence, understanding the impact of beneficial bacteria on crop development is key to the future of developing microbial products. The ability of PGPB to increase crop yields has been recently investigated in agriculture, as PGPB can support and protect plants under different stresses. Since PGPB interactions occur naturally, finding a method to apply beneficial bacteria while maintaining their efficiency and quality is a topic of interest. PGPB have been used as microbial inoculants, biofertilizers, and also as seed coatings. Preservation of microorganisms through desiccation has been used as the preferred method for long-term storage of microbial culture. The use of dry powders is favored over liquid cultures due to their ease of transportation and better quality control. For microbial preservation, freeze-drying has been defined as the most convenient and satisfactory preservation method for long-term storage. Freeze-drying is generally preferred over other drying techniques as it gives a high-quality dehydrated product. However, to reach a high-quality product, many parameters need to be monitored, such as bacterial cell concentration, growth medium, lyophilization buffer, rehydration, and duration of freeze-drying. In this research, SA190 was freeze-dried with 10% sucrose mixed with 5% trehalose as lyophilization buffer. Pseudomonas argentinensis SA190 was isolated from the root nodules of the desert plant Indigofera argentae in Saudi Arabia, specifically Jizan. The SA190 freeze-dried product was examined by several tests to assess the product viability and quality, such as accelerated test and water stability test. For future work, the effect of freeze-dried SA190 on plant growth and crop yield will be investigated. Moreover, optimization of the freeze-drying process, formulation, and packaging for commercial will be considered. In addition, bacterial strains isolated in DARWIN21 project with promising effects on plant growth, will be subjected to freeze-drying process.

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Orientador: Elisa Helena Giglio Ponsano / Banca: Antonio Carlos de Laurentiz / Banca: Roberto da Silva / Resumo: A cor de um alimento é de suma importância para a sua aceitação, pois serve como critério de qualidade. Os pigmentantes, ao serem adicionados na produção animal melhoram a coloração dos produtos e a aceitação pelo mercado consumidor. Tais aditivos podem ser elaborados a partir de diversas origens, inclusive de resíduos industriais, e podem ser processados por diferentes técnicas de secagem. Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar dois métodos de retirada de umidade da biomassa de Rubrivivax gelatinosus produzida em efluente de indústria de processamento de pescado, liofilização e atomização, em relação a rendimento do processo e recuperação, cor, composição químico-bromatológica e concentração de oxicarotenóides dos produtos. A bactéria foi cultivada nas águas residuárias citadas, sob condições de anaerobiose, temperatura e luminosidade controladas. Ao final do processo, a biomassa bacteriana foi processada por microfiltração e transformada em pó por meio de liofilização ou atomização. As técnicas não diferiram entre si em relação ao rendimento. A maior recuperação do produto (p = 0,004) e a mais elevada umidade (p = 0,0022) foram obtidas pela técnica de liofilização. As porcentagens de matéria mineral (p < 0,0001) e todos os parâmetros de cor (p < 0,0001) foram maiores para o produto obtido por atomização. Os outros constituintes analisados não diferiram significativamente entre as técnicas. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que, apesar de resultar em menor recuperação, a atomização foi um processo mais rápido que a liofilização, apresentou rendimento equivalente a esta e originou um produto semelhante ao liofilizado em relação à composição químico-bromatológica e pigmentante. Este novo produto pode ser alvo de estudos posteriores para avaliar sua aplicação como componente pigmentante de ração animal / Abstract: The color of a food is parameter of acceptance, because it serves as a quality criterion for the consumers. Pigments are added to animal feeding in order to improve the color of the products and, so, its acceptance. These additives can be made from various sources, including industrial wastes, and can be processed by different drying techniques. This study aimed at comparing two methods of water removal from Rubrivivax gelatinosus biomass produced in the effluent from fish processing industry, lyophilization and spray drying. Parameters analyzed were: process yield, recuperation, color, proximate composition and oxycarotenoids concentration of the products. The bacterium was grown in the wastewater under anaerobiosis and controlled temperature and light conditions. At the end of the process, the bacterial biomass was prepared by microfiltration and dried by freeze and spray drying. No difference was detected for yield between the drying techniques. The higher recuperation of the product (p = 0.004) and the higher moisture content (p = 0.0022) were achieved with lyophilization. The percentages of ash (p < 0.0001) and all color parameters (p < 0.0001) were higher for the product obtained by spray drying. The other constituents analyzed did not differ significantly. The results showed that, although resulting in less recuperation, the spray drying process was faster than lyophilization, had the same yield and produced a biomass similar to the lyophilized one in relation to composition and pigment concentration. This new product can be subjected to further studies to evaluate its use as a pigmenting component of animal feed / Mestre

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / O mamÃo (Carica papaya L.) à uma fruta tropical conhecida e apreciada mundialmente. Suas caracterÃsticas sensoriais e nutricionais contribuem para a grande aceitabilidade desta fruta. Contudo, no perÃodo pÃs-colheita ocorrem elevadas perdas devido a sua alta perecibilidade. Nesse contexto, a liofilizaÃÃo surge como um processo promissor na desidrataÃÃo de mamÃo, pois à um processo de secagem que contribui para preservar os componentes minerais e vitamÃnicos do alimento. Neste trabalho, aplicou-se o processo de liofilizaÃÃo em polpa de mamÃo Formosa, sendo utilizado para dois dentre os trÃs ensaios estudados o adjuvante de liofilizaÃÃo maltodextrina. Foi avaliada a estabilidade dos pÃs alimentÃcios obtidos atravÃs do estudo das caracterÃsticas fÃsicas, fÃsico-quÃmicas e higroscÃpicas. A liofilizaÃÃo reduziu significativamente os teores de carotenÃides das polpas. Jà os elevados teores de aÃÃcares das polpas foram conservados atà o final do armazenamento dos pÃs obtidos apÃs a liofilizaÃÃo. O aumento da concentraÃÃo do adjuvante propiciou maior retenÃÃo de vitamina C durante o armazenamento, assim como reduziu a higroscopicidade nos pÃs de mamÃo liofilizado, resultando em maior estabilidade da atividade de Ãgua e manutenÃÃo dos nÃveis de umidade. Portanto, evidenciou-se a relevÃncia da maltodextrina como adjuvante do processo de liofilizaÃÃo da polpa de mamÃo Formosa, fornecendo pÃs alimentÃcios mais viÃveis, incluindo o aumento da vida de prateleira desses produtos. / Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a tropical fruit known and appreciated worldwide. Their sensory and nutritional characteristics contribute to the wide acceptability of this fruit. However, in the post-harvest loss is high due to its highly perishable. In this context, the lyophilization appears as a promising process for dehydration of papaya, because is a drying process that contributes to preserve the vitamin and mineral components of food. In this work, was applied the lyophilization process in Formosa papaya pulp, being used for two of the three trials studied the adjuvant lyophilization maltodextrin. Was evaluated the stability of food powders obtained through of the study of the physical, physico-chemical and hygroscopic characteristics. The lyophilization significantly reduced the carotenoid contents of the pulps. The high sugar contents of the pulps were kept until the end of the storage the powders obtained after lyophilization. The increase in concentration of the adjuvant resulted in higher retention of vitamin C during storage, as well as reduced the hygroscopicity in papaya lyophilized powders, resulting in increased stability of the water activity and maintenance of humidity levels. Therefore, showed the relevance of maltodextrin as an adjuvant to lyophilization of the pulp of Formosa papaya, providing food powders more viable, including increasing the shelf life of these products.

O presente projeto teve como proposta estudar a utilização do colostro bovino liofilizado como manejo alternativo para caprinos recém-nascidos. Estudos relacionados com a aquisição de proteção passiva e o desenvolvimento do epitélio intestinal, como aspectos citológicos e histológicos, atividade celular e expressão do receptor específico para o IGF-I (IGF-IR), foram realizados. Às 0, 7 e 14 horas de vida, 15 machos recém-nascidos receberam 5% do peso inicial de colostro bovino liofilizado (CBL) e 14 colostro caprino (CC), ambas as refeições com 55 mg/mL de IgG. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas às 0, 7, 14, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 96 horas de vida para a quantificação da imunoglobulina G (IgG), proteína total (PT) e do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina tipo I (IGF-I). Amostras do duodeno, jejuno e íleo foram coletadas às 18, 36 e 96 horas de vida para análises utilizando microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura e transmissão. A atividade de enzimas extracelulares, quantificação da proteína, DNA e RNA total e expressão do IGF-IR também foram determinadas. Amostras de um grupo adicional (0 h), que não ingeriu colostro, foram coletadas. No grupo CBL, as concentrações séricas de IgG às 14, 18, 24 e 48 horas foram maiores que às 0 e 7 horas, enquanto no grupo CC, apenas às 18 horas a concentração sérica foi maior que às 0 e 7 horas (P<0,05). A capacidade de absorção de IgG diminuiu entre 7 e 14 horas em CC (P<0,05), enquanto em CBL, manteve-se sem alteração nestes horários (P>0,05). As variáveis PT e IGF-I não foram influenciadas pela ingestão de colostro bovino liofilizado (P>0.05). Os indicativos de atividade celular, concentração de proteína, DNA e RNA total, proteína/DNA, proteína/RNA e RNA/DNA, e a atividade das enzimas aminopeptidase N, dipeptidil peptidase IV, aminopeptidase A, lactase, maltase e sacarase diferiram nos horários experimentais e em relação ao grupo adicional (P<0,05). Apenas as razões proteína/DNA, proteína/RNA no jejuno e a atividade da aminopeptidase A no íleo foram maiores no grupo CBL (P<0,05). A atividade da fosfatase ácida foi observada nas primeiras horas de vida, especialmente no duodeno. Com relação à morfologia do epitélio intestinal e densidade das vilosidades, o fornecimento de colostro bovino liofilizado não determinou alterações. As variações na ultraestrutura dos enterócitos revelaram a presença, no segmento jejuno, de material absorvido e do complexo endocítico apical às 0, 18 e 36 horas. No duodeno, a expressão gênica do IGF-IR ao nascimento foi maior que às 18 e 36 horas nos grupos CC e CBL (P<0,05). Enquanto, a expressão do receptor deste peptídeo bioativo no jejuno do grupo CBL foi maior às 18 e 36 horas em relação a 0 h (P<0,05). Os resultados obtidos do presente trabalho contribuem para que a fonte alternativa de imunoglobulinas, colostro bovino liofilizado, seja utilizada como um substituto para o colostro caprino sem alterações significativas na aquisição de proteção passiva e nas características histofisiológicas do tecido epitelial do intestino delgado de cabritos. / This project was proposed to study the use of lyophilized colostrum as an alternative management for newborn goat kids. Studies related to the acquisition of passive protection and development of the intestinal epithelium, as cytological and histological aspects, cellular activity and expression of the receptor specific for IGF-I (IGF-IR), were performed. At 0, 7 and 14 hours of life, 15 newborn males received 5% of initial weight of lyophilized bovine colostrum (LBC) and 14 goat colostrum (GC), both meals with 55 mg/mL of IgG. Blood samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 hours of life to quantification of immunoglobulin G (IgG), total protein (TP) and insulin like growth factor type I (IGF-I). Samples of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were collected at 18, 36 and 96 hours of life for analysis using optical microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The activity of extracellular enzymes, quantification of total protein, DNA and RNA and expression of the IGF-IR were also determined. Samples from an additional group (0 h), not suckling, were collected. In LBC group, serum IgG concentrations at 14, 18, 24 and 48 hours were higher than at 0 and 7 hours, while in the GC group, only at 18 hours serum concentration was higher than at 0 and 7 hours (P<0.05). The capacity of IgG absorption decreased between 7 and 14 hours in GC (P<0.05), while in LBC, remained unchanged at these times (P>0.05). The variables TP and IGF-I were not influenced by ingestion of lyophilized bovine colostrum (P>0.05). The indicators of cellular activity, total protein, DNA and RNA concentration, protein/DNA, protein/RNA and RNA/DNA, and the enzyme activity of aminopeptidase N, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, aminopeptidase A, lactase, maltase and sucrase differed in sampling times and in relation to the additional group (P<0.05). Only the rations protein/DNA, protein/RNA in the jejunum and aminopeptidase A activity in the ileum were higher in the LBC group (P<0.05). The acid phosphatase activity was observed in the first hours of life, especially in the duodenum. Regarding the intestinal epithelium morphology and villi density, the supply of lyophilized bovine colostrum did not determine alterations. Changes in enterocytes ultrastructure revealed the presence in the jejunum segment of absorbed material and apical endocytic complex at 0, 18 and 36 hours. In the duodenum, IGF-IR gene expression at birth was higher than at 18 and 36 hours in the GC and LBC (P<0.05). While the expression of this bioactive peptide receptor in the jejunum of the LBC group was higher at 18 and 36 hours relative to 0 h (P<0.05). The results of this work indicate that the alternative source of immunoglobulins, lyophilized bovine colostrum, can be used as a substitute for goat colostrum without significant changes in the acquisition of passive protection and histophysiology characteristics of the small intestine epithelium of goat kids.

O presente projeto teve como proposta estudar a utilização do colostro bovino liofilizado como manejo alternativo para caprinos recém-nascidos. Estudos relacionados com a aquisição de proteção passiva e o desenvolvimento do epitélio intestinal, como aspectos citológicos e histológicos, atividade celular e expressão do receptor específico para o IGF-I (IGF-IR), foram realizados. Às 0, 7 e 14 horas de vida, 15 machos recém-nascidos receberam 5% do peso inicial de colostro bovino liofilizado (CBL) e 14 colostro caprino (CC), ambas as refeições com 55 mg/mL de IgG. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas às 0, 7, 14, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 96 horas de vida para a quantificação da imunoglobulina G (IgG), proteína total (PT) e do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina tipo I (IGF-I). Amostras do duodeno, jejuno e íleo foram coletadas às 18, 36 e 96 horas de vida para análises utilizando microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura e transmissão. A atividade de enzimas extracelulares, quantificação da proteína, DNA e RNA total e expressão do IGF-IR também foram determinadas. Amostras de um grupo adicional (0 h), que não ingeriu colostro, foram coletadas. No grupo CBL, as concentrações séricas de IgG às 14, 18, 24 e 48 horas foram maiores que às 0 e 7 horas, enquanto no grupo CC, apenas às 18 horas a concentração sérica foi maior que às 0 e 7 horas (P<0,05). A capacidade de absorção de IgG diminuiu entre 7 e 14 horas em CC (P<0,05), enquanto em CBL, manteve-se sem alteração nestes horários (P>0,05). As variáveis PT e IGF-I não foram influenciadas pela ingestão de colostro bovino liofilizado (P>0.05). Os indicativos de atividade celular, concentração de proteína, DNA e RNA total, proteína/DNA, proteína/RNA e RNA/DNA, e a atividade das enzimas aminopeptidase N, dipeptidil peptidase IV, aminopeptidase A, lactase, maltase e sacarase diferiram nos horários experimentais e em relação ao grupo adicional (P<0,05). Apenas as razões proteína/DNA, proteína/RNA no jejuno e a atividade da aminopeptidase A no íleo foram maiores no grupo CBL (P<0,05). A atividade da fosfatase ácida foi observada nas primeiras horas de vida, especialmente no duodeno. Com relação à morfologia do epitélio intestinal e densidade das vilosidades, o fornecimento de colostro bovino liofilizado não determinou alterações. As variações na ultraestrutura dos enterócitos revelaram a presença, no segmento jejuno, de material absorvido e do complexo endocítico apical às 0, 18 e 36 horas. No duodeno, a expressão gênica do IGF-IR ao nascimento foi maior que às 18 e 36 horas nos grupos CC e CBL (P<0,05). Enquanto, a expressão do receptor deste peptídeo bioativo no jejuno do grupo CBL foi maior às 18 e 36 horas em relação a 0 h (P<0,05). Os resultados obtidos do presente trabalho contribuem para que a fonte alternativa de imunoglobulinas, colostro bovino liofilizado, seja utilizada como um substituto para o colostro caprino sem alterações significativas na aquisição de proteção passiva e nas características histofisiológicas do tecido epitelial do intestino delgado de cabritos. / This project was proposed to study the use of lyophilized colostrum as an alternative management for newborn goat kids. Studies related to the acquisition of passive protection and development of the intestinal epithelium, as cytological and histological aspects, cellular activity and expression of the receptor specific for IGF-I (IGF-IR), were performed. At 0, 7 and 14 hours of life, 15 newborn males received 5% of initial weight of lyophilized bovine colostrum (LBC) and 14 goat colostrum (GC), both meals with 55 mg/mL of IgG. Blood samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 hours of life to quantification of immunoglobulin G (IgG), total protein (TP) and insulin like growth factor type I (IGF-I). Samples of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were collected at 18, 36 and 96 hours of life for analysis using optical microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The activity of extracellular enzymes, quantification of total protein, DNA and RNA and expression of the IGF-IR were also determined. Samples from an additional group (0 h), not suckling, were collected. In LBC group, serum IgG concentrations at 14, 18, 24 and 48 hours were higher than at 0 and 7 hours, while in the GC group, only at 18 hours serum concentration was higher than at 0 and 7 hours (P<0.05). The capacity of IgG absorption decreased between 7 and 14 hours in GC (P<0.05), while in LBC, remained unchanged at these times (P>0.05). The variables TP and IGF-I were not influenced by ingestion of lyophilized bovine colostrum (P>0.05). The indicators of cellular activity, total protein, DNA and RNA concentration, protein/DNA, protein/RNA and RNA/DNA, and the enzyme activity of aminopeptidase N, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, aminopeptidase A, lactase, maltase and sucrase differed in sampling times and in relation to the additional group (P<0.05). Only the rations protein/DNA, protein/RNA in the jejunum and aminopeptidase A activity in the ileum were higher in the LBC group (P<0.05). The acid phosphatase activity was observed in the first hours of life, especially in the duodenum. Regarding the intestinal epithelium morphology and villi density, the supply of lyophilized bovine colostrum did not determine alterations. Changes in enterocytes ultrastructure revealed the presence in the jejunum segment of absorbed material and apical endocytic complex at 0, 18 and 36 hours. In the duodenum, IGF-IR gene expression at birth was higher than at 18 and 36 hours in the GC and LBC (P<0.05). While the expression of this bioactive peptide receptor in the jejunum of the LBC group was higher at 18 and 36 hours relative to 0 h (P<0.05). The results of this work indicate that the alternative source of immunoglobulins, lyophilized bovine colostrum, can be used as a substitute for goat colostrum without significant changes in the acquisition of passive protection and histophysiology characteristics of the small intestine epithelium of goat kids.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’élaborer de nouveaux (super)isolants thermiques à partir de silices nanostructurées telles que les Silices Mésoporeuses Organisées et les phyllosilicates. Dans un premier temps, il s’agissait d’élaborer les matériaux en contrôlant les paramètres clé de synthèse, puis de les caractériser en évaluant notamment les propriétés thermiques. Les matériaux étudiés sont des micro- et nanoparticules de silice mésoporeuse d’une part, synthétisées avec des porosités intra- et interparticulaires contrôlées, et des phyllosilicates naturels et synthétiques d’autre part. Dans un deuxième temps, différents traitements post-synthèse ont été réalisés sur ces matériaux pour améliorer significativement leurs propriétés physico-chimiques –en particulier les propriétés d’isolation thermique– et leurs performances mécaniques. Par la suite, dans le cadre de l’étude des phyllosilicates modifiés, des composites peu denses phyllosilicates/polymères et phyllosilicates/tensioactifs intercalés et/ou exfoliés ont été élaborés afin d’améliorer les propriétés obtenues et de réaliser une mise en forme de ces matériaux. Les conductivités thermiques ont été déterminées sur l’ensemble des matériaux utilisés. / This thesis aims at developing new thermal (super)insulators from nanostructured silicas such as Organized Mesoporous Silicas and phyllosilicates. First, new materials were created controlling the key-parameters of the synthesis ; these materials were then finely characterized and especially their thermal properties. On one hand, studied materials are mesoporous silica micro- and nanoparticles synthesized with controlled intra- and interparticular porosities, and on the other hand natural and synthetic phyllosilicates. Then post-synthesis treatments were applied to enhance significantly thermal and mechanical performances of the products. In a further step, in the case of the treated phyllosilicates, low-density phyllosilicates/polymers composites and intercalated and/or delaminated phyllosilicates/surfactant composites were synthesized to improve the properties that were obtained and to process the materials. Thermal conductivity was determined for all the samples.