C−\mathcal {C}-IBI: Targeting cumulative coordination within an iterative protocol to derive coarse-grained models of (multi-component) complex fluids

We present a coarse-graining strategy that we test for aqueous mixtures. The method uses pair-wise cumulative coordination as a target function within an iterative Boltzmann inversion (IBI) like protocol. We name this method coordination iterative Boltzmann inversion ($\mathcal {C}-$IBI). While the underlying coarse-grained model is still structure based and, thus, preserves pair-wise solution structure, our method also reproduces solvation thermodynamics of binary and/or ternary mixtures. Additionally, we observe much faster convergence within $\mathcal {C}-$IBI compared to IBI. To validate the robustness, we apply $\mathcal {C}-$IBI to study test cases of solvation thermodynamics of aqueous urea and a triglycine solvation in aqueous urea

Big data in cloud: a data architecture

Nowadays, organizations have at their disposal a large volume of data with a wide variety of types. Technology-driven organizations want to capture process and analyze this data at a fast velocity, in order to better understand and manage their customers, their operations and their business processes. As much as data volume and variety increases and as faster analytic results are needed, more demanding is for a data architecture. This data architecture should enable collecting, storing, and analyzing Big Data in Cloud Environment. Cloud Computing, ensures timeliness, ubiquity and easy access by users. This paper proposes to develop a data architecture to support Big Data in Cloud and, finally, validate the architecture with a proof of concept.This work was financed by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for the project: PEst-OE/EEI/UI0319/201

A modern data architecture: a test case

Atualmente os dados são vistos como tendo tipos e origens distintas. Os tipos de dados podem ser estruturados, semiestruturados e não estruturados. As origens dos dados podem ser diversas como Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), folhas de cálculo, documentos de texto, redes sociais, imagens, vídeos, sensores entre outros. Esta diversidade de dados exige uma arquitetura moderna que permita a recolha dos dados de várias origens e tipos, viabilizando igualmente a extração, transformação e limpeza dos mesmos através do processo de Extract, Transform and Load (ETL), bem como o armazenamento e integração dos dados para posteriores análises. Esta arquitetura deve ser suportada por um ambiente de Cloud Computing, garantindo assim a sua atualidade, ubiquidade e fácil acesso pelos utilizadores. Este artigo propõe-se desenvolver uma arquitetura e implementar uma solução que será validade através de um caso de teste com dados da área da saúde.Currently the data are seen as having distinct types and origins. Data types may be structured, semi-structured and unstructured. The data sources can be diverse as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), spreadsheets, text documents, social networks, images, videos, and other sensors. This diversity of data requires a modern architecture that enables the collection of data from multiple sources and types, also enabling the extraction, processing and cleaning of data through the Extract and Transform and Load (ETL) process, and the storage and integration of data for further analysis. This architecture must be supported by a Cloud Computing environment, thus ensuring its relevance, ubiquity and easy access by users. This article proposes to develop an architecture and implement a solution that is validated through a test case with health care data.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PEst-OE/EEI/UI0319/201

Association of radio polar cap brightening with bright patches and coronal holes

Radio-bright regions near the solar poles are frequently observed in Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) maps at 17 GHz, and often in association with coronal holes. However, the origin of these polar brightening has not been established yet. We propose that small magnetic loops are the source of these bright patches, and present modeling results that reproduce the main observational characteristics of the polar brightening within coronal holes at 17 GHz. The simulations were carried out by calculating the radio emission of the small loops, with several temperature and density profiles, within a 2D coronal hole atmospheric model. If located at high latitudes, the size of the simulated bright patches are much smaller than the beam size and they present the instrument beam size when observed. The larger bright patches can be generated by a great number of small magnetic loops unresolved by the NoRH beam. Loop models that reproduce bright patches contain denser and hotter plasma near the upper chromosphere and lower corona. On the other hand, loops with increased plasma density and temperature only in the corona do not contribute to the emission at 17 GHz. This could explain the absence of a one-to-one association between the 17 GHz bright patches and those observed in extreme ultraviolet. Moreover, the emission arising from small magnetic loops located close to the limb may merge with the usual limb brightening profile, increasing its brightness temperature and width.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Controle de plantas daninhas por meio da consorciação com Gliricídia. II. Cultura do milho

Um dos principais interesses da agricultura moderna é a redução no uso de herbicidas; para isso, diversas alternativas estão sendo investigadas, inclusive a consorciação. A cobertura do solo com ramos de gliricídia (Gliricidia sepium) não tem efeito alelopático sobre o milho ou feijão, mas diminui significativamente a população de algumas espécies de plantas daninhas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os rendimentos de espigas verdes e de grãos de cultivares de milho, em resposta ao controle de plantas daninhas, por meio da consorciação com gliricídia. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e cinco repetições. Os cultivares 1051, AG 2060, BRS 2020 e PL 6880 (atribuídos às parcelas) foram submetidos aos seguintes tratamentos: sem capina, duas capinas (realizadas aos 20 e 40 dias após a semeadura) e consorciação com gliricídia. Esta planta foi cultivada em um sistema de transplantio, para garantir germinação uniforme e rápido estabelecimento no campo. A semeadura foi feita em bandejas de 200 células, com uma semente por célula (volume de 35 mL). As plantas emergiram dois a três dias após a semeadura e foram transplantadas para o local definitivo dois a três dias após a emergência. O milho foi semeado no mesmo dia em que a gliricídia foi transplantada. Dezesseis espécies de plantas daninhas ocorreram em diferentes frequências, com distribuição desuniforme na área experimental. Os cultivares AG 1051 e AG 2060 foram os melhores quanto à maioria das características avaliadoras do rendimento de milho verde. O cultivar AG 1051 foi o melhor quanto ao rendimento de grãos. Os maiores rendimentos de espigas verdes e de grãos foram obtidos com duas capinas. Todavia, o fato de as parcelas consorciadas terem apresentado médias intermediárias às médias das parcelas não-capinadas e capinadas – em algumas características avaliadoras do rendimento de espigas verdes e no rendimento de grãos – indica que a gliricídia foi benéfica ao milho e exerceu certo controle sobre as plantas daninhas. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTA reduction in herbicide use is one of modern agriculture’s main interests and several alternatives are being investigated with this objective, including intercropping. Gliricídia (Gliricidia sepium) mulch has no allelopathic effect on corn or beans but significantly decreased the population of some weed species. The objective of this study was to evaluate green ear and grain yield in corn cultivars as a response to weed control achieved via intercropping with gliricidia. A completely randomized block design with five replicates and split-plots was used. Cultivars AG 1051, AG 2060, BRS 2020, and PL 6880 (assigned to plots) were submitted to the following treatments: no hoeing, hoeing (performed at 20 and 40 days after sowing the corn), and corn intercropped with gliricidia. Gliricidia was grown in a transplanting system to ensure uniform germination and fast establishment in the field. Seeding was made in 200-cell trays with one seed per cell (35 mL volume). The plants emerged two to three days after sowing and were transplanted to a permanent site two to three days after emergence. Corn was sown on the same day gliricidia was transplanted. Sixteen weed species occurred at different frequencies, with uneven distribution in the experimental area. Cultivars AG 1051 and AG 2060 were the best with reference to most characteristics employed to evaluate green corn yield. Cultivar AG 1051 provided the highest grain yield. The highest green ear yield and grain yield values were obtained with hoeing. However, the fact that intercropped plots showed intermediate yield between the values obtained for hoed and non-hoed plots indicates that gliricidia was beneficial to corn, and exerted a certain level of weed control

Perceções de alunos sobre o contributo da avaliação de desempenho docente para as suas aprendizagens

A avaliação do desempenho docente é, nos dias de hoje, uma componente fundamental na agenda educacional. As sucessivas alterações operadas ao Estatuto da Carreira Docente, à avaliação de professores e ao modelo introduzido em 2008, em que a observação de aulas associada ao mérito e à progressão na carreira são características, tem marcado a burocracia da administração educativa. O presente estudo tem como objetivo central saber se as práticas pedagógicas dos docentes, nas aulas observadas, são percecionadas como diferentes pelos alunos, comparativamente às práticas pedagógicas das aulas não observadas. Foram recolhidas opiniões de 240 alunos do 9.º ano, através da aplicação de um questionário construído para o efeito. Os resultados obtidos apontam para a existência de diferenças significativas das práticas pedagógicas dos professores entre aulas observadas e não observadas, quer na realização das atividades letivas, quer na relação pedagógica com os alunos; ABSTRACT: The assessment of teacher performance is, nowadays, a fundamental component on the educational agenda. Successive amendments operated to the Teaching Career Statute, the assessment of teachers and the model introduced in 2008, in which classroom observation associated with merit and career development are characteristics, has marked the bureaucracy of educational administration. The present study aims to know if teachers’ pedagogic practices, in the lessons observed, are differently, based on students perceptions, compared to the pedagogical practices of unobserved classes. Opinions were collected from 240 students of 9th. grade, through a questionnaire constructed for this purpose. The results achieved points to the existence of significant differences in teachers’ pedagogical practices, between lessons observed and unobserved, either in teaching activities, both in the pedagogical relationship with students

A Diagnosis of Brazilian Shipbuilding Industry on the Basis of Methodology for an Analysis of Sectorial Systems of Innovation

A recent resumption of Brazilian shipbuilding industry, driven by the purchasing power of the state, has presented controversial opinions concerning its effective contribution to, in the first instance, the innovation and competitiveness in the sector and secondly, for Brazilian development. The present study, conducted between November 2009 and May 2011, analyses the said industry from a methodology based on an approach of system sectors of innovation, seeking to highlight the existence and intensity of relationships between the main organizations and institutions, which are members of the industry, in addition to verifying the individual contributions of each of the stakeholders to the industrial competitiveness. As a result of the study, an accurate diagnosis is presented concerning the main aspects to be prioritized through the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, in addition to reviews of proposals of scientific and industrial policies directed towards the said industry, specifically as regards the granting of public funds for research and development demands be revised, as should be aligned to the real needs of the country and the productive sector

Logistic Regression: Risk Question for Disabled People

All over the world, since ancient times, disabled people have always had worse health, education, economical participation, and higher poverty rate compared to non-disabled people. For disabled people to achieve better and more lasting prospects, these people must be empowered and seek to eliminate barriers that prevent them from participating and being included in the community, having access to quality education, finding decent work, and having their voices heard. In statistical terms, a useful alternative that can serve as support and monitoring of public policies in this area is to propose, for continuous use, the risk index called risk index for disabled people (long-term physical, hearing, intellectual, or sensory), which consists of evaluating which factors are associated with this risk, as well its intensity and direction of each of these factors, generating a final score that can be ordered or classified, according to non-disabled person probability became disabled person. In the Brazilian case, we propose the use of binary and ordinal logistic regression techniques to select the most significant factors using criteria such as AIC and BIC and calculate the risk probability for different disabilities (visual, hearing, physical, and intellectual) for the dataset. Sample composed of 20,800,804 respondents to the 2010 IBGE Census Complete Questionnaire