A Smart Agricultural System Based on PLC and a Cloud Computing Web Application Using LoRa and LoRaWan.

The increasing challenges of agricultural processes and the growing demand for food globally are driving the industrial agriculture sector to adopt the concept of 'smart farming'. Smart farming systems, with their real-time management and high level of automation, can greatly improve productivity, food safety, and efficiency in the agri-food supply chain. This paper presents a customized smart farming system that uses a low-cost, low-power, and wide-range wireless sensor network based on Internet of Things (IoT) and Long Range (LoRa) technologies. In this system, LoRa connectivity is integrated with existing Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), which are commonly used in industry and farming to control multiple processes, devices, and machinery through the Simatic IOT2040. The system also includes a newly developed web-based monitoring application hosted on a cloud server, which processes data collected from the farm environment and allows for remote visualization and control of all connected devices. A Telegram bot is included for automated communication with users through this mobile messaging app. The proposed network structure has been tested, and the path loss in the wireless LoRa is evaluated.

A Novel Approach of a Low-Cost UWB Microwave Imaging System with High Resolution Based on SAR and a New Fast Reconstruction Algorithm for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Detection.

In this article, a new efficient and robust approach-the high-resolution microwave imaging system-for early breast cancer diagnosis is presented. The core concept of the proposed approach is to employ a combination of a newly proposed delay-and-sum (DAS) algorithm and the specific absorption rate (SAR) parameter to provide high image quality of breast tumors, along with fast image processing. The new algorithm enhances the tumor response by altering the parameter referring to the distance between the antenna and the tumor in the conventional DAS matrices. This adjustment entails a much clearer reconstructed image with short processing time. To achieve these aims, a high directional Vivaldi antenna is applied around a simulated hemispherical breast model with an embedded tumor. The detection of the tumor is carried out by calculating the maximum value of SAR inside the breast model. Consequently, the antenna position is relocated near the tumor region and is moved to nine positions in a trajectory path, leading to a shorter propagation distance in the image-creation process. At each position, the breast model is illuminated with short pulses of low power waves, and the back-scattered signals are recorded to produce a two-dimensional image of the scanned breast. Several simulations of testing scenarios for reconstruction imaging are investigated. These simulations involve different tumor sizes and materials. The influence of the number of antennas on the reconstructed images is also examined. Compared with the results from the conventional DAS, the proposed technique significantly improves the quality of the reconstructed images, and it detects and localizes the cancer inside the breast with high quality in a fast computing time, employing fewer antennas.

Bupivacaine wound infiltration reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirement after thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We conducted a prospective double-blind randomized study assessing bupivacaine end-of-surgery wound infiltration for pain relief in thyroid surgery. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group S, local wound infiltration with saline solution; Group B, bupivacaine 0.5% was administered. Pain perception was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) during post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) stay every 10 min and during the 24 postoperative hours admission at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. The total consumption of analgesics (morphine and nefopam) was recorded. RESULTS: Sixty patients were studied. The VAS scores were significantly lower in the bupivacaine administered group in the post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min, and during the hospital stay at hours 6, 12, 18 and 24. The number of patients who required postoperative opioid rescue was significantly lower in group B. No patient in group B developed neurological or cardiological complications after infiltration. CONCLUSION: Bupivacaine application is effective in decreasing postoperative pain and analgesic requirement during the hospital stay for patients with thyroidectomy.

[Transcystique drainage after laparoscopic exploration of common bile duct: an efficient and safe method]. / La cholédocotomie semi idéale : une méthode sure pour drainer la voie biliaire après exploration laparoscopique de la voie biliaire principale.

BACKGROUND: laparoscopic exploration is one of the modalities of treatment of choledocolithiasis. Modalities of biliary decompression after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration are controversial. AIM: to assess the benefits, the efficacity and harms of trancystic biliary drainage following laparoscopic common bile duct stone exploration methods: we report retrospectively twenty patients which were operated in our department by laparoscopy and have done a transcystic biliary drainage. RESULTS: the mean age was 52 years. They were twenty patients (13 women and 7 men). The median operating time was 165 minutes. Post operative course was uneventful in 17 cases. Biliary complications were present in three patients (2 biliary fistulas and one biliary peritonitis. Residual stones were found in two cases. One of the residual stone was treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy.There were no post operative deaths. There were no biliary stricture and no recurrent ductal stones. CONCLUSION: despite of our short experience, the transcystic biliary drainage following laparoscopic management for choledocolithiasis seems to be a safe and an efficient method.

[Pancreatic pseudocysts complicated by hemorrhage and infection]. / Un pseudo kyste pancréatique doublement compliqué d'infection et d'hémorragie.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of bleeding complications secondary to the development of pancreatic pseudocysts is rare but associated with high mortality. AIM: To report a case of pancreatic pseudocyst complicated by hemorrhage and infection. CASE REPORT: A 62 years old patient with history of severe acute pancreatitis two months ago consulted for abdominal pain associate with fever and internal bleeding. CT scan showed a heterogeneous PK complicated by hematoma of the ACE and hemoperitoneum. The emergency surgical treatment showed a PK superinfected with erosion of the splenic artery. It was directed by a left splenopancreatectomy. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic management of hemorrhagic complications of pancreatic pseudo cysts is surgery despite the contribution of artério-embolisation.

[Laparoscopic repair of a post-traumatic ruptured diaphragm. Case report]. / Traitement laparoscopique d'une rupture diaphragmatique post-traumatique. A propos d'un cas.

We report an observation of traumatic rupture of the diaphragm repaired laparoscopically. A 23-year-old man was admitted to our hospital two days after having undergone a traffic accident. The diagnosis was evoked by chest radiograph, then confirmed by Computed tomography scan, in front of an ascension of the left diaphragmatic cupola and an intrathoracic digestive clarity. Seen the hemodynamic stability of the patient, a laparoscopic repair was indicated. The intra-abdominal pressure was fixed at 10 mm Hg. Despite the retraction of the diaphragmatic banks and the posterior seat of the breach, the intervention was held without any major incident. The postoperative course was marked by the formation of an encysted left pleural hematoma evacuated by a lung decortication. The evolution was normal thereafter.