SCNet: Learning Semantic Correspondence

This paper addresses the problem of establishing semantic correspondences between images depicting different instances of the same object or scene category. Previous approaches focus on either combining a spatial regularizer with hand-crafted features, or learning a correspondence model for appearance only. We propose instead a convolutional neural network architecture, called SCNet, for learning a geometrically plausible model for semantic correspondence. SCNet uses region proposals as matching primitives, and explicitly incorporates geometric consistency in its loss function. It is trained on image pairs obtained from the PASCAL VOC 2007 keypoint dataset, and a comparative evaluation on several standard benchmarks demonstrates that the proposed approach substantially outperforms both recent deep learning architectures and previous methods based on hand-crafted features.Comment: ICCV 201

"Bonita" natureza e romantismo, forma e canção em Tom Jobim

Neste artigo se discute o papel que a natureza cumpre em dois âmbitos distintos da trajetória de Tom Jobim. Partindo do mais explícito, o ecológico, aborda-se a questão que gira em torno da erosão da natureza pela ação do homem e da busca por uma experiência integradora. Essa discussão abre as portas para o problema central do artigo, situado no âmbito menos evidente da produção estética: delimitar e analisar o papel que a natureza cumpre na elaboração formal da canção "Bonita". A análise é mediada por considerações sobre certas transformações ocorridas na esfera da produção de música popular no Brasil na década de 1950, e alinhavada pela discussão a respeito da incorporação de aspectos do romantismo no pensamento e na obra de Jobim. Por fim, apresenta-se uma problematização que coloca em relação os dois âmbitos de sua trajetória que foram comentados: ecologia e estética3 .This article discusses the role of nature in two spheres of Tom Jobim's trajectory. Starting from the most evident, ecology, it addresses the question of erosion by human experience and the search for an integrating experience. This discussion opens the door to the central problem of the article, situated in the less clear sphere of aesthetic production: to define and analyse the role that nature plays in the formal establishment of "Bonita". The investigation is mediated by considerations about certain transformations in the production of popular music in Brazil in the 1950s, and tacked by the discussion about the incorporation of aspects of romanticism in the thought and the work of Jobim. Finally, it presents a problem that links the two spheres of his career previously commented: ecology and aesthetics

Antimicrobial and leishmanicidal activities of seeds of Pterodon emarginatus

The present work investigated the antimicrobial and leishmanicidal activities of seeds of Pterodon emarginatus. The tests of diffusion in agar (10, 25 and 50 mg) and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were performed using essential oil (EO) obtained from seeds using the standard microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 90271, Escherichia coli ATCC 10530 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Leishmanicidal activity of the EO and fractions (6.25 – 100 µg/ml) obtained of seeds of P. emarginatus was evaluated in vitro using L. amazonensis and L. chagasi promastigote forms. The EO inhibited the growth of S. aureus (MIC = 2.5 mg/ml). The hexane (IC50 = 50.06 µg/ ml) and butanol (IC50 = 46.65 µg/ml) fractions showed activity against L. amazonensis promastigote forms, but did not against L. chagasi promastigote forms. The results indicate that the bioactive molecules present in the seeds of P. emarginatus can be used as prototype for the development of drug and/or as source pharmaceutical material.O presente trabalho investigou as atividades antimicrobiana e leishmanicida das sementes de Pterodon emarginatus Vogel. O potencial antimicrobiano do óleo essencial (OE) obtido das sementes foi avaliado através dos testes de difusão em ágar (10, 25 e 50 mg) e determinação da concentração inibitória mínima e utilizou os microorganismos-padrão: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 90271, Escherichia coli ATCC 10530 e Candida albicans ATCC 10231. A atividade leishmanicida do OE e frações (6,25 – 100 µg/mL) obtidas das sementes de P. emarginatus foram testadas, in vitro, sobre formas promastigotas de L. amazonensis e L. chagasi. O OE das sementes de P. emarginatus inibiu o crescimento somente de S. aureus (CIM = 2,5 mg/mL). As frações hexânica (IC50 = 50,06 µg/mL) e butanólica (IC50 = 46,65 µg/mL) apresentaram atividade frente às formas promastigotas de L. amazonensis, porém não apresentaram atividade frente a L. chagasi. Os resultados indicam que as moléculas bioativas presentes nas sementes de P. emarginatus podem ser utilizadas como protótipos para o desenvolvimento de fármacos e/ou como fonte de matérias-primas farmacêuticas

A experimentação problematizadora no ensino de Química: uma experiência na sala de aula.

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A utilização de jogos didáticos no ensino de Química: o rapto da professora de Química

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A formação de professores de Química à distância da Universidade Federal de Sergipe: origem, avanços e perspectivas

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Anti-tumor efficiency of Perillylalcohol/β-Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in a sarcoma S180-induced mice model

The low solubility and high volatility of perillyl alcohol (POH) compromise its bioavailability and potential use as chemotherapeutic drug. In this work, we have evaluated the anticancer activity of POH complexed with -cyclodextrin (-CD) using three complexation approaches. Molecular docking suggests the hydrogen-bond between POH and -cyclodextrin in molar proportion was 1:1. Thermal analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that the POH was enclosed in the -CD cavity. Also, there was a significant reduction of particle size thereof, indicating a modification of the -cyclodextrin crystals. The complexes were tested against human L929 fibroblasts after 24 h of incubation showing no signs of cytotoxicity. Concerning the histopathological results, the treatment with POH/-CD at a dose of 50 mg/kg promoted approximately 60% inhibition of tumor growth in a sarcoma S180-induced mice model and the reduction of nuclear immunoexpression of the Ki67 antigen compared to the control group. Obtained data suggest a significant reduction of cycling cells and tumor proliferation. Our results confirm that complexation of POH/-CD not only solves the problem related to the volatility of the monoterpene but also increases its efficiency as an antitumor agent.This work was supported by the Banco do Nordeste (grant FUNDECI/2016.0015), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica do Estado de Sergipe (Fapitec) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Eliana B. Souto would like to acknowledge the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and from European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE) for the project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Scents from the Brazilian Cerrado: The essential oil from Calea hymenolepis (Asteraceae)

The Brazilian Cerrado is a savannah-like biome with more than 12,000 botanical species in Central Brazil. It is an endangered biome, and considered to be a biodiversity hotspot [1]. Calea hymenolepis Baker is a shrub native from the Cerrado. Samples from a population (n>5) were collected from a rupestrian field in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, in Goiás State, Brazil. According to Brazilian law, collection and access were authorized by the Ministry of Environment (process IBAMA 02001.003166/2013-26). A voucher was deposited at the Embrapa Genetic Resources herbarium and the essential oil was obtained from the leaves by hydrodistillation for 2 h, using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oil was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS on Agilent 7890A and 5975C systems, both with HP-5MS fused silica capillary columns (30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 μm). Oil components were identified by comparison of both mass spectra and linear retention indices with spectral libraries and literature. Oil yield was 0.2%. Major compounds present were α-phellandrene (34.2%), p-cymene (10.6%), germacrene D (8.5%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (6.3%) and δ-elemene (4.6%). The oil composition was quite different from other Calea, like C. clematidea, rich in clematerol, a terpenic epoxide [3]. Although subject to systematic phytochemical studies since the 1980's, with the identification of sesquiterpene lactones, chromones, benzopyrans, flavonoids, chalcones and even acetylenes, very few studies have been published regarding the essential oil of Calea species [2]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first analysis on the essential oil from Calea hymenolepis

Scents from the Brazilian Cerrado: The essential oil from Siparuna brasiliensis (Siparunaceae)

Cerrado is a term used to describe a savannah-like vegetation, occurring in Central Brazil. It is considered one of the 25 most important biodiversity hotspots in the world and has numerous herbs, including several aromatic plant families, many of which have never been subjected to chemical study [1]. Siparuna brasiliensis (Spreng.) A. DC. (family Siparunaceae) is an endemic Brazilian species, occurring in both the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest [2]. Differently from other Siparuna species, very few chemical data are available about S. brasiliensis, and none so far regarding its essential oil. During a systematic investigation on the Cerrado flora, S. brasiliensis (CEN herbarium voucher 88294) was sampled in Brasilia, Brazil, and the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation. According to Brazilian law, collection and access were authorized by the Ministry of Environment (process IBAMA 02001.003166/2013-26). The oil was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS on Agilent 7890A and 5975C systems, both with HP-5MS fused silica capillary columns (30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 μm). Oil components were identified by comparison of both mass spectra and linear retention indices with spectral libraries and literature. Oil yield was 0.7%. Only 11 compounds were detected, all but one identified by mass spectra and retention indices. Most of the constituents were closely related sesquiterpenes, with gurjunane and guaiane skeletons. The major compound was cyclocolorenone (75.5%). Other components present were 11-hydroxy-3,5-guaiadiene (tentative identification), 2-tridecanone (3.6%), α-cadinol (3.4%) and viridiflorol (3.4%)

The Interest Rate Effects of Government Bond Purchases Away from the Lower Bound

I analyze the recent experience of unconventional monetary policy in Sweden to study the interest rate transmission mechanisms of government bond purchases when interest rates are not constrained by a lower bound. Using dynamic term structure models and event study regressions I find that government bond purchases have important portfolio balance and signaling effects. The signaling channel operates mainly by lowering short-rate expectations in the intermediate segment of the yield curve, while the portfolio balance channel is effective in lowering longer maturity term premia. In addition, I find that target interest rate policy and government bond purchases operate in different segments of the yield curve. This suggests that a combination of the two policies can be used to lower interest rates across the whole maturity spectrum, making monetary policy more expansionary