Improving land cover classification using genetic programming for feature construction

Batista, J. E., Cabral, A. I. R., Vasconcelos, M. J. P., Vanneschi, L., & Silva, S. (2021). Improving land cover classification using genetic programming for feature construction. Remote Sensing, 13(9), [1623]. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13091623Genetic programming (GP) is a powerful machine learning (ML) algorithm that can produce readable white-box models. Although successfully used for solving an array of problems in different scientific areas, GP is still not well known in the field of remote sensing. The M3GP algorithm, a variant of the standard GP algorithm, performs feature construction by evolving hyperfeatures from the original ones. In this work, we use the M3GP algorithm on several sets of satellite images over different countries to create hyperfeatures from satellite bands to improve the classification of land cover types. We add the evolved hyperfeatures to the reference datasets and observe a significant improvement of the performance of three state-of-the-art ML algorithms (decision trees, random forests, and XGBoost) on multiclass classifications and no significant effect on the binary classifications. We show that adding the M3GP hyperfeatures to the reference datasets brings better results than adding the well-known spectral indices NDVI, NDWI, and NBR. We also compare the performance of the M3GP hyperfeatures in the binary classification problems with those created by other feature construction methods such as FFX and EFS.publishersversionpublishe

Understanding the clinical spectrum of complicated Plasmodium vivax malaria: a systematic review on the contributions of the Brazilian literature

The resurgence of the malaria eradication agenda and the increasing number of severe manifestation reports has contributed to a renewed interested in the Plasmodium vivax infection. It is the most geographically widespread parasite causing human malaria, with around 2.85 billion people living under risk of infection. The Brazilian Amazon region reports more than 50% of the malaria cases in Latin America and since 1990 there is a marked predominance of this species, responsible for 85% of cases in 2009. However, only a few complicated cases of P. vivax have been reported from this region. A systematic review of the Brazilian indexed and non-indexed literature on complicated cases of vivax malaria was performed including published articles, masters' dissertations, doctoral theses and national congresses' abstracts. The following information was retrieved: patient characteristics (demographic, presence of co-morbidities and, whenever possible, associated genetic disorders); description of each major clinical manifestation. As a result, 27 articles, 28 abstracts from scientific events' annals and 13 theses/dissertations were found, only after 1987. Most of the reported information was described in small case series and case reports of patients from all the Amazonian states, and also in travellers from Brazilian non-endemic areas. The more relevant clinical complications were anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, jaundice and acute respiratory distress syndrome, present in all age groups, in addition to other more rare clinical pictures. Complications in pregnant women were also reported. Acute and chronic co-morbidities were frequent, however death was occasional. Clinical atypical cases of malaria are more frequent than published in the indexed literature, probably due to a publication bias. In the Brazilian Amazon (considered to be a low to moderate intensity area of transmission), clinical data are in accordance with the recent findings of severity described in diverse P. vivax endemic areas (especially anaemia in Southeast Asia), however in this region both children and adults are affected. Finally, gaps of knowledge and areas for future research are opportunely pointed out

Pediatric Hospitalizations Associated with 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Argentina

Fil: Libster, Romina. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Bugna, Jimena. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Coviello, Silvina. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Hijano, Diego R. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Dunaiewsky, Mariana. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Reynoso, Natalia. Hospital Municipal Materno Infantil de San Isidro; Argentina.Fil: Cavalieri, Maria L. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Guglielmo, Maria C. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Areso, M. Soledad. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gilligan, Tomas. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Santucho, Fernanda. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Cabral, Graciela. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Gregorio, Gabriela L. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Moreno, Rina. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Lutz, Maria I. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Panigasi, Alicia L. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Saligari, Liliana. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Caballero, Mauricio T. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Egües Almeida, Rodrigo M. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Gutierrez Meyer, Maria E. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Neder, Maria D. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Davenport, Maria C. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Del Valle, Maria P. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Santidrian, Valeria S. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Mosca, Guillermina. Ministerio de Ciencia, Técnica e Innovación. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Alvarez, Liliana. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Landa, Patricia. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Pota, Ana. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Boloñati, Norma. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Dalamon, Ricardo. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Sanchez Mercol, Victoria I. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Espinoza, Marco. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Peuchot, Juan Carlos. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Karolinski, Ariel. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Bruno, Miriam. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Borsa, Ana. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Ferrero, Fernando. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Bonina, Angel. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Ramonet, Margarita. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Albano, Lidia C. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Luedicke, Nora. Ministerio de Ciencia, Técnica e Innovación. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Alterman, Elias. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Savy, Vilma L. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Baumeister, Elsa. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virología. Servicio de Virosis Respiratoria; Argentina.Fil: Chappell, James D. Vanderbilt University. Pathology, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Fil: Edwards, Kathryn M. Vanderbilt University. Departments of Pediatrics, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Fil: Melendi, Guillermina A. Vanderbilt University. Departments of Pediatrics, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Fil: Polack, Fernando P. Vanderbilt University. Departments of Pediatrics, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Background: While the Northern Hemisphere experiences the effects of the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, data from the recent influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere can provide important information on the burden of disease in children. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series involving children with acute infection of the lower respiratory tract or fever in whom 2009 H1N1 influenza was diagnosed on reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction assay and who were admitted to one of six pediatric hospitals serving a catchment area of 1.2 million children. We compared rates of admission and death with those among age-matched children who had been infected with seasonal influenza strains in previous years. Results: Between May and July 2009, a total of 251 children were hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza. Rates of hospitalization were double those for seasonal influenza in 2008. Of the children who were hospitalized, 47 (19%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, 42 (17%) required mechanical ventilation, and 13 (5%) died. The overall rate of death was 1.1 per 100,000 children, as compared with 0.1 per 100,000 children for seasonal influenza in 2007. (No pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza were reported in 2008.) Most deaths were caused by refractory hypoxemia in infants under 1 year of age (death rate, 7.6 per 100,000). Conclusions: Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza was associated with pediatric death rates that were 10 times the rates for seasonal influenza in previous years

Educação escolar e estratégias de famílias dos subúrbios de Maputo

Nos estudos sobre desenvolvimento e pobreza a educação escolar é considerada, na maior parte dos casos, condição essencial para uma melhoria de condições de vida. Questionando esse pressuposto, este artigo analisa as representações e práticas sociais de famílias do subúrbio de Maputo relativamente à educação escolar dos seus descendentes