Evasão do curso de Licenciatura em Matemática (diurno) da Universidade de Brasília

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Ciência da Computação, 2017.A evasão é um problema que representa um grande desafio para as Instituições de Ensino Superior no Brasil, pois possui diversas causas e provoca graves consequências no âmbito social, acadêmico e econômico. Atualmente existem poucos estudos sobre o problema de evasão do curso de Licenciatura em Matemática (Diurno) da Universidade de Brasília e não há um entendimento claro sobre o perfil de alunos com risco de evasão. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar estatisticamente as reprovações em disciplinas obrigatórias do curso e identificar quais dessas disciplinas estão relacionadas à evasão do curso.The dropout rate is a problem that represents a major challenge for the higher education institutions in Brazil, since it is originated from many reasons and causes extensive damage in the social, academic and economic areas. Currently there are few studies on the problem of dropout rate in Mathematics for Teaching degree course at the University of Brasilia while there is no clear understanding of the profile of students. This work aimed to statistically analyze the failures in compulsory subjects of the course, as well as identify the compulsory disciplines that are related to the dropout rate cause in this course

Deteção e identificação de doenças em plantas utilizando Deep Learning

A automação de trabalho é hoje em dia, uma prática cada vez mais recorrente em diversas áreas, pois permite diminuir a necessidade de mão de obra e muitas vezes melhorar os erros inerentes ao fator humano. A deteção de doenças em plantas hoje em dia ocorre pela via tradicional, onde é necessário o trabalho de um técnico especializado, que inspeciona e emite um parecer sobre a possível patologia. Este processo leva a uma serie de problemas. Nesta dissertação, será apresentada uma solução capaz de auxiliar o trabalho de um profissional, utilizando técnicas de Deep Learning, nomeadamente recorrendo a Convolutional Neural Networks para auxiliar na detenção de patologias, de forma a providenciar um diagnostico atempado, sugerindo também tratamentos caso a patologia os necessite.Work automation is nowadays an increasingly recurring practice in many areas, as it reduces the need for manpower and often improves the inherent errors of the human factor. The detection of diseases in plants today occurs in the traditional way, where it is necessary for the work of a specialized technician, who inspects and gives an opinion on the possible pathology. This process leads to several problems. In this dissertation, a solution will be presented that can assist the work of a professional, using Deep Learning techniques, namely using Convolutional Neural Networks to assist in the detection of pathologies, to provide a timely diagnosis, also suggesting treatments if the pathology causes need it

In Pandemic Times: An Analysis from the Perspective of Public and Private Employees in the Home Office

The Covid-19 pandemic was like a tsunami for companies. Before, an environment marked by the electronic punch clock, with limited hours, and then, public and private employees had to stay in their homes and deliver the same or more productivity to their companies. Due to this new global reality, this study was proposed with the objective of understanding how public and private employees perceive work in the home office during the pandemic period. For this understanding, the study used qualitative methodological procedures with exploratory characteristics. With appropriate consent, questionnaires were answered through the WhatsApp, which were answered through audio and subsequently validated by company participants, in a total of 28 participants, fourteen from the public company and fourteen from the private company, of both genders. The questionnaire consisted of a structured script with 18 questions, and was divided into two stages. In the first, there are questions about personal data and the second, questions about digital settlement. As a result, there was disbelief that the disease could reach Brazil; the level of anxiety by most employees of public and private companies; the difficulty of dealing with the new work environment, the family and the new discovery that one can work at home and reaching the goals. The understanding of working in a home office in a time of pandemic is that a new scenario will light up in companies, through demand from employees, to continue exercising their activities in a family environment, which will require new concepts of people management. Keywords: Pandemic. Home office. Public and private employees. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-10-01 Publication date:May 31st 202

Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Isolated from Free-Ranging Northern Elephant Seals in 2010 off the Central California Coast

Interspecies transmission of influenza A is an important factor in the evolution and ecology of influenza viruses. Marine mammals are in contact with a number of influenza reservoirs, including aquatic birds and humans, and this may facilitate transmission among avian and mammalian hosts. Virus isolation, whole genome sequencing, and hemagluttination inhibition assay confirmed that exposure to pandemic H1N1 influenza virus occurred among free-ranging Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris) in 2010. Nasal swabs were collected from 42 adult female seals in April 2010, just after the animals had returned to the central California coast from their short post-breeding migration in the northeast Pacific. Swabs from two seals tested positive by RT-PCR for the matrix gene, and virus was isolated from each by inoculation into embryonic chicken eggs. Whole genome sequencing revealed greater than 99% homology with A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) that emerged in humans from swine in 2009. Analysis of more than 300 serum samples showed that samples collected early in 2010 (n = 100) were negative and by April animals began to test positive for antibodies against the pH1N1 virus (HI titer of ≥ 1∶40), supporting the molecular findings. In vitro characterizations studies revealed that viral replication was indistinguishable from that of reference strains of pH1N1 in canine kidney cells, but replication was inefficient in human epithelial respiratory cells, indicating these isolates may be elephant seal adapted viruses. Thus findings confirmed that exposure to pandemic H1N1 that was circulating in people in 2009 occurred among free-ranging Northern Elephant Seals in 2010 off the central California coast. This is the first report of pH1N1 (A/Elephant seal/California/1/2010) in any marine mammal and provides evidence for cross species transmission of influenza viruses in free-ranging wildlife and movement of influenza viruses between humans and wildlife

El coste de la vida en las comunidades autónomas, áreas urbanas y ciudades de España

En este trabajo se estima el coste de la vida de áreas subnacionales de la economía española: comunidades autónomas (CCAA), áreas urbanas funcionales (AUF), ciudades centrales de estas AUF y sus coronas, a partir de las variables de renta familiar disponible per cápita y del coste de la vivienda. Estas dos variables muestran una buena capacidad predictiva para las paridades del poder adquisitivo (PPA) subnacionales estimadas por el Bureau of Economic Analysis de los Estados Unidos, que son la única fuente oficial sistemática de PPA subnacionales. Además, se ilustra el efecto que la consideración de las PPA tiene sobre los valores de la renta familiar disponible per cápita, uno de los indicadores macroeconómicos más relevantes para medir la desigualdad entre territorios

Optimisation of paediatrics computed radiography for full spine curvature measurements using a phantom: a pilot study

Aim: Optimise a set of exposure factors, with the lowest effective dose, to delineate spinal curvature with the modified Cobb method in a full spine using computed radiography (CR) for a 5-year-old paediatric anthropomorphic phantom. Methods: Images were acquired by varying a set of parameters: positions (antero-posterior (AP), posteroanterior (PA) and lateral), kilo-voltage peak (kVp) (66-90), source-to-image distance (SID) (150 to 200cm), broad focus and the use of a grid (grid in/out) to analyse the impact on E and image quality (IQ). IQ was analysed applying two approaches: objective [contrast-to-noise-ratio/(CNR] and perceptual, using 5 observers. Monte-Carlo modelling was used for dose estimation. Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was used to calculate inter-observer-variability. The angle was measured using Cobb’s method on lateral projections under different imaging conditions. Results: PA promoted the lowest effective dose (0.013 mSv) compared to AP (0.048 mSv) and lateral (0.025 mSv). The exposure parameters that allowed lower dose were 200cm SID, 90 kVp, broad focus and grid out for paediatrics using an Agfa CR system. Thirty-seven images were assessed for IQ and thirty-two were classified adequate. Cobb angle measurements varied between 16°±2.9 and 19.9°±0.9. Conclusion: Cobb angle measurements can be performed using the lowest dose with a low contrast-tonoise ratio. The variation on measurements for this was ±2.9° and this is within the range of acceptable clinical error without impact on clinical diagnosis. Further work is recommended on improvement to the sample size and a more robust perceptual IQ assessment protocol for observers

Girls4STEM: Gender Diversity in STEM for a Sustainable Future

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are key disciplines towards tackling the challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals. However, evidence shows that women are enrolling in these disciplines in a smaller percentage than men, especially in Engineering related fields. As stated by the United Nations Women section, increasing the number of women studying and working in STEM fields is fundamental towards achieving better solutions to the global challenges, since the potential for innovation is larger. In this paper, we present the Girls4STEM project, which started in 2019 at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria de la Universitat de València, Spain. This project works towards breaking the stereotypes linked to STEM fields, addressing both boys and girls aged from 6 to 18, but especially trying to open the range of career options for young girls through interaction with female STEM experts. The goal is to spark girls’ interest in STEM disciplines from childhood, so that they become more self-confident in these areas. To achieve this goal, the project is built over three main actions: the Girls4STEM Family Talks, where students, families, and teachers participate; the Girls4STEM Professional Talks, where the target is a general audience; and the Initial Training Seminars for teachers. Short-term results are here presented, showing that aspects related to self-perception and perception from others (family, teachers) play a significant role. Moreover, these results also indicate that there may not be a general understanding of which disciplines are included in STEM

Disparate miRNA expression in serum and plasma of patients with acute myocardial infarction: a systematic and paired comparative analysis

Despite the promising value of miRNAs in the diagnostic and prognostic of cardiovascular disease (CVD), recent meta-analyses did not support their potential. Methodological variances in studies may interfere with miRNA profle and afect their results. This study determines if the blood starting material is a source of variance in miRNA profle by performing a paired comparison in plasma and serum of the expression of primary miRNAs associated with CVD. Circulating miRNA yield was similar in both plasma and serum, although a signifcant increase was observed in patients with Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) compared to control volunteers. When normalized by the expression of miR-484, diferent patterns of miRNA expression between serum and plasma. Although NSTEMI modifed the expression of miR-1 and miR-208 in both serum and plasma, plasma displayed a higher variance than serum (Levene's test p<0.01). For miR-133a and miR-26a, diferences were only detected in serum (p=0.0240), and conversely, miR-499a showed diferences only in plasma of NSTEMI (p=0.001). Interestingly, miR-21 showed an opposite pattern of expression, being increased in serum (2−ΔΔCt:5.7, p=0.0221) and decreased in plasma (2−ΔΔCt: 0.5, p=0.0107). Plasma and serum exhibit diferent patterns of circulating miRNA expression in NSTEMI and suggest that results from studies with diferent starting material could not be comparable