Assessing the emotional impact of video using machine learning techniques

Typically, when a human being watches a video, different sensations and mind states can be stimulated. Among these, the sensation of fear can be triggered by watching segments of movies containing themes such as violence, horror and suspense. Both the audio and visual stimuli may contribute to induce fear onto the viewer. This dissertation studies the use of machine learning for forecasting the emotional effects triggered by video, more precisely, the automatic identification of fear inducing video segments. Using the LIRIS-ACCEDE dataset, several experiments have been performed in order to identify feature sets that are most relevant to the problem and to assess the performance of different machine learning classifiers. Both classical and deep learning techniques have been implemented and evaluated, using the Scikit-learn and TensorFlow machine learning libraries. Two different approaches for training and testing have been followed: film-level dataset splitting, where different films were used for training and testing; and sample-level dataset splitting, which allowed that different samples coming from the same films were used for training and testing. The prediction of movie segments that trigger fear sensations achieved a F1-score of 18.5% in the first approach, a value suggesting that the dataset does not adequately represent the universe of movies. The second approach achieved a F1-score of about 84.0%, a substantially higher value that shows promising outcomes when performing the proposed task.Quando o ser humano assiste a filmes, diferentes sensações e estados de espírito são despoletados. Entre estes encontra-se o medo, que pode ser despoletado através da visualização de excertos de filmes contendo, por exemplo, violência gráfica, horror ou suspense. Tanto a componente visual como a auditiva contribuem para o despoletar desta sensação. Nesta dissertação é analisada a utilização de aprendizagem automática para prever o impacto emocional que a visualização de vídeos possa causar nas pessoas, mais concretamente os segmentos de um filme que despoletam a sensação de medo. Foram realizadas diversas experiências usando o conjunto de dados LIRIS-ACCEDE com os objetivos de encontrar conjuntos de atributos de imagem e áudio com maior relevância para o problema e de avaliar o desempenho de diversos modelos de aprendizagem automática usados para classificação. Foram usados diversos algoritmos clássicos e de aprendizagem profunda, recorrendo-se às bibliotecas Scikit-learn e TensorFlow. No que se refere à separação dos dados usados para treino e teste foram seguidas duas abordagens: divisão dos dados ao nível do filme, sendo usados filmes distintos para treino e teste; e divisão dos dados ao nível da amostra, possibilitando que os conjuntos de treino e teste contenham amostras distintas, mas pertencentes aos mesmos filmes. Para previsão dos segmentos que despoletam medo, na primeira abordagem chegou-se a um resultado de F1-score de 18,5%, concluindo-se que o conjunto de dados usado não é representativo, e na segunda abordagem a um F1-score de 84,0%, um valor substancialmente mais alto e promissor no desempenho da tarefa proposta

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

REVISÃO SISTEMATICA SOBRE A SÍNDROME DE BURNOUT EM PROFISSIONAIS DA ARÉA DE SAÚDE NA PANDEMIA PELO COVID-19

ABSTRACT: Objective: To review the national scientific production on the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on health professionals, with an emphasis on Burnout Syndrome and its main tripod: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduction of personal fulfillment. Methods: This is a literature review, carried out by original and complete articles published in the databases: PUBMED, LILACS and GOOGLE ACADÊMICO, in Portuguese, Spanish and English. Results: Due to the theoretical overview, it was shown that health professionals already had high prevalence, with regard to the development of BS; with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers grew even more, due to stressors. Conclusion: According to the increase in demand for medical services, it greatly overloaded health professionals who began to feel with a lower quality of life. With this, it is necessary measures that relieve these professionals so that they do not evolve with psychological consequence Keysword: Professional exhaustion, Mental health, Pandemic.RESUMEN: Objetivo: Revisar la producción científica nacional sobre los efectos de la pandemia del Coronavirus y su impacto en los profesionales de la salud, con énfasis en el Síndrome de Burnout y su trípode principal: el agotamiento emocional, la despersonalización y la reducción de la realización personal. Métodos: Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica, realizada por artículos originales y completos publicados en las bases de datos: PUBMED, LILACS y GOOGLE ACADÊMICO, en portugués, español e inglés. Resultados: Debido a la revisión teórica, se demostró que los profesionales de la salud ya tenían una alta prevalencia, con respecto al desarrollo de SB; con la llegada de la pandemia de COVID-19, las cifras aumentaron aún más debido a factores estresantes. Conclusión: De acuerdo al aumento de la demanda de servicios médicos, se sobrecargó en gran medida a los profesionales de la salud que comenzaron a sentirse con una menor calidad de vida. Con ello, son necesarias medidas que alivie a estos profesionales para que no evolucionen con secuelas psicológicas. Palabras clave: Agotamiento profesional, Salud mental, Pandemia.RESUMO: Objetivo: Revisar a produção científica nacional sobre os efeitos da pandemia pelo Coronavírus e seu reflexo em profissionais da saúde, com ênfase na Síndrome de Burnout e seus principais tripé: exaustão emocional, despersonalização e redução da realização pessoal. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura, efetivada por artigos originais e completos publicados nas bases de dados: PUBMED, LILACS e GOOGLE ACADÊMICO, em língua portuguesa, espanhola e inglesa. Resultados: Devido ao apanhado teórico, demonstrou que os profissionais de saúde já possuíam altas prevalências, no que se refere ao desenvolvimento da SB; com o advento da pandemia de COVID-19, os números cresceram ainda mais, em decorrências aos fatores estressores. Conclusão: De acordo com o aumento da demanda por serviços médicos, sobrecarregou muito os profissionais de saúde que começaram a sentir com uma menor qualidade de vida. Com isso, é necessário medias que desafoguem esses profissionais para que os mesmos não evoluam com consequências psicológicas. Palavras chaves: Esgotamento profissional, Saúde mental, Pandemia.RESUMO: Objetivo: Revisar a produção científica nacional sobre os efeitos da pandemia pelo Coronavírus e seu reflexo em profissionais da saúde, com ênfase na Síndrome de Burnout e seus principais tripé: exaustão emocional, despersonalização e redução da realização pessoal. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura, efetivada por artigos originais e completos publicados nas bases de dados: PUBMED, LILACS e GOOGLE ACADÊMICO, em língua portuguesa, espanhola e inglesa. Resultados: Devido ao apanhado teórico, demonstrou que os profissionais de saúde já possuíam altas prevalências, no que se refere ao desenvolvimento da SB; com o advento da pandemia de COVID-19, os números cresceram ainda mais, em decorrências aos fatores estressores. Conclusão: De acordo com o aumento da demanda por serviços médicos, sobrecarregou muito os profissionais de saúde que começaram a sentir com uma menor qualidade de vida. Com isso, é necessário medias que desafoguem esses profissionais para que os mesmos não evoluam com consequências psicológicas. Palavras chaves: Esgotamento profissional, Saúde mental, Pandemia

Dez anos do Centro de Estudos da Escola de Arquitetura da Universidade do Minho, 2009 | 2019

[Excerto] O Lab2PT - Laboratório de Paisagens, Património e Território - apresenta-se como uma unidade de investigação com forte propensão para a investigação aplicada e prestação de serviços com elevado nível de impacto social. Atuando por entre várias áreas do saber, da arqueologia ao design ou às artes visuais, da geografia à história ou às ciências da terra, recebe da arquitetura e do urbanismo uma das suas mais importantes expressões de interação com a sociedade.Esta iniciativa foi apoiada através do Financiamento Plurianual do Laboratório de Paisagens, Património e Território (Lab2PT), Ref.ª UID/04509/2020, financiado por fundos nacionais (PIDDAC) através da FCT/MCTE

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data