Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Public Administration: A Systematic Literature Review

The advent of machines power-driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) have strongly influenced the world in the 21st century. The future of AI is promising and is offering a wide range of opportunities for scholars and academics. Although the theme has received a considerable attention over the last years, much has been speculated and little is known about its impacts on the Public Administration. Thus, the purpose of this article is to make the result of those impacts less ambiguous. To this end, we have conducted a systematic review to provide a comprehensive analysis on the latest impacts of AI on the Public Administration. Our intent is to narrow the field of study, while AI is being continuously strengthened with new empirical evidences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adequação e dinamica do uso agricola das terras na microbacia hidrografica do corrego Agua Limpa: Araçatuba, SP

Orientador: Archimedes Perez FilhoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia AgricolaResumo: A necessidade crescente do uso intensivo do solo, na busca de melhor produtividade agrícola, fez com que a utilização de máquinas e insumos químicos se tornasse uma necessidade para o produtor rural. Nesse modelo de produção agrícola não coube espaço para a preservação dos recursos naturais e nesse contexto, aumenta a preocupação em toda a sociedade com a degradação ambiental. Esse trabalho visa colaborar com os estudos da preservação dos recursos naturais e da produção rural, partindo do pressuposto que o uso adequado à capacidade de uso das terras é ponto básico na conservação do solo e da água. Utiliza-se como unidade de estudo uma microbacia hidrográfica, denominada água limpa no município de Araçatuba - SP. Trabalhou-secom o Sistema de Informações Geográficas, no Laboratório de Geoprocessamento e Fotointerpretação do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, com finalidade de manipular os dados ou acidentes geográficos necessários ao estudo. Os dados da microbacia introduzidos e manipulados no SIG foram: dados geográficos básicos (localização, etc.) da microbacia hidrográfica, classes de declive, solos e uso da terra em dois momentos (1971 e 1994), que resultaram, depois de cruzamentos no ambiente SIG, no mapa das classes de capacidade de uso, e nas taxas de adequação dos usos das terras que possibilitaram, por conseguinte, elaborar recomendações e localizar os pontos de maior risco de erosãoAbstract: The intensive use of land to obtain the increase of crop yields were done by means of increase of machinaries and chemical fertilizer by the farmers, but allowed the degradation of the natural resources. In this context, the world society is worried with the environment degradation. The purpose of this work was to study the preservation of the natural resources and soil productivity maintenance by using the land suitability to established use and management levels. The study was carried out at the "Agua Limpa" creek watershed, in Araçatuba, S. Paulo State. It was used the geographic information system (GIS) of the Instituto Agronomico Campinas. The data evaluate for the watershed were: geographic data basics, slope classes, soils and land uses for two periods, 1971 and 1994. Land suitability was established by crossing these maps. The difference of land use during the two periods and the land use capability were established as well as soi! management recommendationsMestradoEngenharia AgricolaMestre em Engenharia Agrícol

O ensino da estatística em S. Tomé e Principe

Esta dissertação tem como objectivo analisar a motivação e a preparação dos professores que ensinam Estatística no ensino secundário de São Tomé e Príncipe, bem como as percepções das suas dificuldades. Outro dos objectivos centra-se no próprio aluno, também nos seus conhecimentos e motivação para com a Estatística e na tentativa de perceber qual a percepção que têm da importância da Estatística nas suas vidas e/ou profissões futuras. Para tal, foram elaborados questionários para a recolha presenciais de dados a professores de Matemática e a alunos do ensino secundário (1.º e 2.ºciclos), de 15 escolas pertencentes a 6 distritos do país. Obtiveram-se 2538 questionários validados a alunos (o que correspondeu a 10,42% dos alunos destes ciclos de estudo) e 90 questionários a professores que leccionam a disciplina de Matemática. Após a análise dos resultados concluimos que há reconhecimento pela importância da Estatística mas percebemos também a existência de alguma desmotivação na aprendizagem destes conteúdos. Quanto aos docentes, os resultados evidenciam a necessidade de uma melhor preparação para o ensino dos conteúdos de Probabilidades e Estatística e que se deve promover, e investir, na aplicação de novas tecnologias nesta área; Abstract: The Teaching of Statistics in Sao Tome and Principe This dissertation aims to analyze the motivation and the preparation of the teachers who teach Statistics in the secondary education of São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as the perceptions of their difficulties. Another of the objectives is to focus on the student himself, his knowledge and motivation with regard to Statistics and in an attempt to understand his perception of the importance of Statistics in their lives and/or future professions. For this purpose, questionnaires were created for the collection of face-to-face data for mathematics teachers and high school students (1st and 2nd cycle), from 15 schools belonging to 6 districts of the country. There were 2538 questionnaires validated to students (corresponding to 10.42% of the students in these cycles) and 90 questionnaires to teachers who teach the Mathematics discipline. After analyzing the results, we conclude that there is recognition for the importance of Statistics but we also perceive the existence of some lack of motivation in the learning of these contents. As for teachers, the results highlight the need for better preparation for the teaching of Probability and Statistics contents and that should be promoted and invested in the application of new technologies in this area

IMPACTO DE LOS SÍNTOMAS DE LA MENOPAUSIA, DOLOR MUSCULOESQUELÉTICO Y FACTORES DE RIESGO DE CAÍDAS EN MUJERES POSTMENOPÁUSICAS PORTUGUESAS Y ESPAÑOLAS

Esta tesis tuvo como objetivo realizar la validación de versión portuguesa del cuestionario MRS y estudiar las diferentes asociaciones entre la gravedad de los síntomas menopáusicos, el dolor musculoesquelético y el riesgo de caídas. La versión portuguesa del MRS mostró una validez y unas propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. También se encontró que un mayor impacto de los síntomas psicológicos relacionados con la menopausia fue un predictor significativo de un peor control postural, al igual que una mayor severidad de los síntomas somático-vegetativos se asoció con una menor confianza en el equilibrio y un mayor miedo a caer. En cuanto a las asociaciones entre el dolor musculoesquelético y la severidad de los síntomas menopáusicos, encontramos una asociación entre una mayor intensidad del dolor en la última semana y en el momento de la recolección de datos con la severidad de los síntomas menopáusicos.This Doctoral thesis aimed to perform the validation of the Portuguese version of the MRS questionnaire and to study the different associations between the severity of menopausal symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and the risk of falls. The validity and psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the MRS were adequate. It was also found that a greater impact of menopause-related psychological symptoms was a significant predictor of poorer postural control, just as greater severity of somatic-vegetative symptoms was associated with lower confidence in balance and greater fear of falls. Regarding the associations between musculoskeletal pain and the severity of menopausal symptoms, we found an association between a greater intensity of pain in the last week and at the time of data collection with the severity of menopausal symptoms.Tesis Univ. Jaén. Departamento de Ciencias de la Salu

The role of tropical dry forests for biodiversity, carbon and water conservation in the neotropics: lessons learned and opportunities for its sustainable management

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the current regional literature associated with tropical dry forest (TDF) along three main axes: biodiversity, carbon and water conservation in the neotropics. Our analysis provides three key findings: (1) from the biodiversity point of view, we document that high degrees of endemism, diversity of plant life forms and ecophysiological types as key elements for their conservation across the Americas, (2) from the carbon storage point of view, we found that if the world’s TDFs were restored they whole ecosystem would comprise 22 Pg of carbon in aboveground biomass. In the Americas alone, TDF restoration could potentially add 8 Pg of carbon to the potential total ecosystem carbon stock, (3) we found that at least 66 % of water reservoirs in the neotropics are located within dry forest ecoregions; therefore, the conservation of the quality of freshwater sources for human consumption in the neotropics is directly dependent on the sustainable management of TDF-dominated landscapes. In this paper, we stress that advocacy for conservation and sustainable management of TDF will benefit from integrating it’s value in biophysical terms (e.g. carbon, biodiversity) with key ecosystem services and uses (e.g. its impact on hydrological dynamics and its potential for fostering ecotourism initiatives and entrepreneurship). By doing this, support and awareness could be wider and more effective in the long term, especially from national and local communities. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Epigenetic rather than genetic factors may explain phenotypic divergence between coastal populations of diploid and tetraploid Limonium spp. (Plumbaginacaeae) in Portugal

BACKGROUND: The genus Limonium Miller comprises annual and perennial halophytes that can produce sexual and/or asexual seeds (apomixis). Genetic and epigenetic (DNA methylation) variation patterns were investigated in populations of three phenotypically similar putative sexual diploid species (L. nydeggeri, L. ovalifolium, L. lanceolatum), one sexual tetraploid species (L. vulgare) and two apomict tetraploid species thought to be related (L. dodartii, L. multiflorum). The extent of morphological differentiation between these species was assessed using ten diagnostic morphometric characters. RESULTS: A discriminant analysis using the morphometric variables reliably assigns individuals into their respective species groups. We found that only modest genetic and epigenetic differentiation was revealed between species by Methylation Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism (MSAP). However, whilst there was little separation possible between ploidy levels on the basis of genetic profiles, there was clear and pronounced interploidy discrimination on the basis of epigenetic profiles. Here we investigate the relative contribution of genetic and epigenetic factors in explaining the complex phenotypic variability seen in problematic taxonomic groups such as Limonium that operate both apomixis and sexual modes of reproduction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that epigenetic variation might be one of the drivers of the phenotypic divergence between diploid and tetraploid taxa and discuss that intergenome silencing offers a plausible mechanistic explanation for the observed phenotypic divergence between these microspecies. These results also suggest that epigenetic profiling offer an additional tool to infer ploidy level in stored specimens and that stable epigenetic change may play an important role in apomict evolution and species recognition

Chlorthalidone plus amiloride reduces the central systolic blood pressure in stage 1 hypertension patients

Background: Hypertension reduction strategies use blood pressure in the brachial artery as the primary endpoint. Individuals who achieve the target blood pressure reduction with antihypertensive treatment have residual cardiovascular risk attributed to the difference in pressure between the aorta and brachial artery. Antihypertensive treatment affects the intrinsic properties of the vascular wall and arterial stiffness markers and consequently the central pressure. Recent publications stress the importance of adequate control of the central compared to peripheral blood pressure. Related clinical implications suggest that individuals with normal peripheral but high central blood pressure should not receive antihypertensive drugs that act on the central pressure. Therefore, they are at greater cardiovascular risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with a thiazide diuretic versus losartan on the central blood pressure in stage 1 hypertensive patients. Methods: Twenty-five patients were randomized to the chlorthalidone 25 mg/amiloride 5 mg group (q.d.) and 25 patients received losartan 50 mg (b.i.d). The central systolic blood pressure (CSBP) and augmentation index (AIx 75) were assessed using applanation tonometry. The paired t-test was used to compare the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), CSBP and AIx 75 between the thiazide and losartan groups at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Results: Significant reductions in CSBP (123.3 ± 14.2 vs. 113.4 ± 111.4, P = 0.0103) and AIx 75 (87.7 ± 9.6 vs. 83.8 ± 8.9, P = 0.0289) were observed after 6 months of drug treatment with chlorthalidone 25 mg/amiloride 5 mg (q.d.). The administration of losartan 50 mg (b.i.d) did not reduce the CSBP and there were insignificant changes in the AIx 75. Conclusions: Six-month treatment of chlorthalidone/amiloride but not losartan reduces the CSBP and AIx 75 in adults with stage 1 hypertension

Estudio comparativo de estilos de aprendizaje de estudiantes de enseñanza superior de educación presencial y a distancia.

   This paper compares the dominant learning styles in the high level students from face-to-face and distance education modalities. It understands the learning style as something proper to the individual, because it defines how the students elaborate the construction of knowledge in their cognitive structure. The students learning styles identification is relevant to the teachers because, as mediators, they can direct the strategies that best contribute to the process of teaching and learning. Considering the distance education expansion it is necessary to evaluate which learning styles are prevalent among students of this modality, by this reason the central issue of this investigation is in the scope of comparative education, seeking to observe the particular learning styles from students of these two modalities. This is a quantitative approach research that uses as a data source a field research, conducted in an intentional and non-probability sampling, composed of post graduating students from face-to-face and distance education and using the questionnaire developed by Felder and Silverman as a data instrument collection. The study concludes that in both groups of students there is a predominance of the active, sensitive, visual and sequential learning style, revealing the urgency of changes in the strategies of teaching and learning towards a meaningful learning. El presente artículo compara los estilos dominantes de aprendizaje de estudiantes de enseñanza superior en las modalidades presencial y a distancia. Comprende el estilo de aprendizaje como algo propio del individuo, porque define cómo los estudiantes desarrollan la construcción del conocimiento en su estructura cognitiva. La identificación de los estilos de aprendizaje es relevante para los profesores porque, como mediadores, pueden orientar las estrategias que contribuyen mejor al proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Considerando la expansión de la educación a distancia es necesario evaluar qué estilos de aprendizaje son prevalentes entre los estudiantes de ambas modalidades, por este motivo el punto central de esta investigación busca observar los estilos de aprendizaje particulares de estudiantes de estas dos modalidades. Este es un enfoque de abordaje cuantitativo, que utiliza como fuente de datos una investigación de campo, conducida por medio de muestreo intencional y no probabilístico, realizado por estudiantes de post-graduación de enseñanza presencial y a distancia, utilizando el cuestionario desarrollado por Felder y Silverman como instrumento de recolección de datos. El estudio concluye que en ambos grupos de estudiantes existe un predominio del estilo de aprendizaje activo, sensitivo, visual y secuencial, revelando la urgencia por cambios en las estrategias de enseñanza y aprendizaje hacia un aprendizaje significativo.&nbsp