Prioritizing positive feature values: a new hierarchical feature selection method

In this work, we address the problem of feature selection for the classification task in hierarchical and sparse feature spaces, which characterise many real-world applications nowadays. A binary feature space is deemed hierarchical when its binary features are related via generalization-specialization relationships, and is considered sparse when in general the instances contain much fewer “positive” than “negative” feature values. In any given instance, a feature value is deemed positive (negative) when the property associated with the feature has been (has not been) observed for that instance. Although there are many methods for the traditional feature selection problem in the literature, the proper treatment to hierarchical feature structures is still a challenge. Hence, we introduce a novel hierarchical feature selection method that follows the lazy learning paradigm – selecting a feature subset tailored for each instance in the test set. Our strategy prioritizes the selection of features with positive values, since they tend to be more informative – the presence of a relatively rare property is usually a piece of more relevant information than the absence of that property. Experiments on different application domains have shown that the proposed method outperforms previous hierarchical feature selection methods and also traditional methods in terms of predictive accuracy, selecting smaller feature subsets in general

Almanack of Parnahyba: the desire for modernity under the veil of barbarism in Parnaíba - Piauí (1924 - 1941).

This thesis is part of the Almanack of Parnaíba, produced and edited by Benedicto dos Santos Lima, in the city of Parnaíba, from 1924 until 1941, and in its articulation with the advent of modernity in the country. We seek to highlight and discuss the historically situated discursive plots, the fruits of a view on sociocultural experiments and, at the same time, as social instituting dimensions, especially considering the sensibilities and modern worldviews. Through texts, photographs and advertisements that acted in the formation of a local imaginary about the lived experiences, Parnaíba reveals itself, in the pages of Almanack, a modern city forged by images planned by the publishers’ interests. In this sense, the general objective of the research is to analyze how the Parnaíba Almanac "sold" the city of Parnaíba under the bias of European modernity, divulged its ideals, exalted its society and consecrated its wealthiest inhabitants from 1924 until 1941. In order to analyze the Almanacks, the theoretical framework establishes a dialogue between authors as Le Goff (1994), Chartier (1999), Certeau (1994), Aragão (2014), Ferreira (2001) and Dutra (2005), and documentary and hemerographic sources. To discuss the city of Parnaíba, the dialogue was established with local authors such as Mendes (1994), Lima (2008) and Nascimento (2001). The methodology used is anchored in the assumptions of historical research and based on primary and secondary sources. The Almanack is a privileged source to understand the modern historical formation of sensibilities and social practices, as a window that opens to very distant and at the same time very close cultural universes.Tese (Doutorado)Esta tese incursiona no Almanaque da Parnaíba, produzido e editado por Benedicto dos Santos Lima, na cidade de Parnaíba, entre os anos de 1924 e 1941, e em sua articulação com o advento da Modernidade no país. Buscamos evidenciar e discutir as tramas discursivas historicamente situadas, frutos de uma visão sobre os experimentos socioculturais e, ao mesmo tempo, como dimensões instituintes do social, sobretudo, no que respeita às sensibilidades e às visões de mundo modernas. Por meio de textos, fotografias e propagandas que agiam na formação de um imaginário local sobre as experiências vividas, Parnaíba se revela, nas páginas do Almanaque, uma cidade moderna forjada por imagens planejadas pelos interesses dos publicadores. Nesse sentido, o objetivo geral da pesquisa é analisar como o Almanaque da Parnaíba “vendia” a cidade de Parnaíba sob o viés da modernidade europeia, divulgava seus ideais, exaltava sua sociedade e consagrava seus habitantes mais abastados dentro do recorte temporal analisado. A partir de um diálogo entre as fontes documentais e hemerográficas, na perspectiva de teóricos como Le Goff (1994), Chartier (1999), Certeau (1994), Aragão (2014), Ferreira (2001) e Dutra (2005), empreendemos a análise dos Almanaques, para discutir a cidade de Parnaíba à luz de autores locais, como Mendes (1994), Lima (2008) e Nascimento (2001). A metodologia utilizada está ancorada nos pressupostos da pesquisa histórica e embasada em fontes primárias e secundárias. O Almanaque se configura como uma fonte privilegiada para compreender a formação histórica moderna das sensibilidades e das práticas sociais, como uma janela que se abre para universos culturais muito distantes e, ao mesmo tempo, muito próximos

The macroeconomics of austerity

A new study from the thinktank the Progressive Economics Forum (PEF), published today, uses official figures to show that the total economic damage inflicted by austerity is significantly higher than previously thought, needlessly cutting more than half a trillion pounds from public expenditure.Using figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility, the paper demonstrates that governments from 2010 onwards could have maintained historic rates of growth in public spending and still have reduced Britain’s government debt burden by 2019.Austerity was not an inevitability. The financial crisis of 2008 sent the global economy into a tailspin, with capital flows collapsing and world trade grinding to a halt. Economic output across rich economies slumped dramatically. In immediate response, the G20 conference in April 2009 produced a hard-won international consensus on the need for coordinated fiscal and monetary expansion

Desenvolvimento de acessos de nim indiano.

Edição especial dos Anais do 5º Congresso Brasileiro de Recursos Genéticos, Fortaleza, nov. 2018

An educational experience with childcare groups in Mariana, Minas Gerais State.

Introdução: A educação em saúde é o foco da experiência relatada neste trabalho que foi desenvolvido como uma das atividades de um grupo do Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para a Saúde (PET- -Saúde) da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP) em parceria com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Mariana, no âmbito do Programa de Atenção à Criança do município. Objetivos: Melhorar a interatividade entre profissionais e população por meio de estratégias participativas e lúdicas envolvendo grupos de mães. Métodos: Realização de dinâmicas educativas e avaliativas com os responsáveis pelas crianças e de atividades lúdicas para entretenimento das crianças que são assistidas pelo Programa, ambas pautadas na metodologia da educação popular. Resultados: Os profissionais envolvidos se mostraram receptivos ao uso de novas metodologias educativas no trabalho com aqueles grupos operativos. Os participantes demonstraram interesse e interação nos encontros. As crianças se mostraram satisfeitas em ter um passatempo enquanto aguardavam a avaliação nutricional. O processo proporcionou reflexão crítica e construção de conhecimento entre os monitores e professores. Conclusão: A aproximação entre profissionais de saúde e população, historicamente pautada pela dicotomia entre o saber técnico e o saber popular, é beneficiada por ações que permitem a criação de espaços de diálogo, como os que foram desenvolvidos no grupo com o suporte da metodologia da educação popular. ___________________________________________________________________________________ABSTRACT: Introduction: The focus of the experiment discussed here was health education, as one of the activities of a group under the Educational Program for Health Work (PET-Saúde) at the Federal University in Ouro Preto (UFOP) in partnership with the Mariana Municipal Health Department, through the Municipal Childcare Program. Objectives: The objective was to improve interaction between health workers and the population through participatory leisure-time activities involving the children’s mothers. Methods: A literature search was conducted to enable the development of group dynamics, with support from the UFOP Educational Toy Collection. Results: Group dynamics were developed, with interactive games and rounds of discussion for evaluation. Conclusion: Collaboration between health workers and the population, traditionally based on the dichotomy between technical expertise and grassroots knowledge, can benefit from actions that take into account the establishment of interfaces for dialogue and exchange of knowledge, such as those introduced by the group with the support of the popular education methodology

Operative Management of Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: A Reappraisal of an Institutional Experience

OBJECTIVE: To review our recent experience with primary retroperitoneal sarcomas, determine prognostic factors for disease recurrence and patient survival, and compare them to our previous results. BACKGROUND: Medical therapies have shown little efficacy in the management of retroperitoneal sarcomas, making total surgical extirpation the best chance for patient cure. METHODS: The case histories of all patients operated upon for retroperitoneal sarcomas between January 1983 and December 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients underwent attempted surgical resection of a primary retroperitoneal sarcoma. There were 54 (56%) men and 43 (44%) women, with a mean age of 59 years. Seventy-six (78%) patients underwent gross total resection, 13 (14%) had residual disease, and 8 (8%) underwent biopsy only with an actuarial 1-year survival of 88%, 51%, and 47%, respectively (P = 0.001). The actuarial 5- and 10-year survivals for patients who underwent gross total resection were 51% and 36%, respectively. Thirty-three patients (43%) developed locoregional recurrence, and 20 patients (26%) developed distant metastases at a median time of 12 months. The cumulative probability at 5 years was 44% for locoregional recurrence and 29% for distant metastases. On univariate analysis, factors associated with improved survival were complete resection of the tumor (P = 0.001), nonmetastatic disease at presentation (P = 0.01), low-grade tumors (P = 0.02), liposarcomas (P = 0.003), and no disease recurrence (P = 0.0001). Contrary to previous reports, the histologic subtype (P = 0.04) was the only significant factor predicting survival on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with our earlier experience, the rates of complete resection and overall survival have improved. Local control continues to be a significant problem in the management of retroperitoneal sarcomas. Because new surgical options for this problem are limited, further outcome improvement requires novel adjuvant therapies