Efficient Computation of Multiple Density-Based Clustering Hierarchies

HDBSCAN*, a state-of-the-art density-based hierarchical clustering method, produces a hierarchical organization of clusters in a dataset w.r.t. a parameter mpts. While the performance of HDBSCAN* is robust w.r.t. mpts in the sense that a small change in mpts typically leads to only a small or no change in the clustering structure, choosing a "good" mpts value can be challenging: depending on the data distribution, a high or low value for mpts may be more appropriate, and certain data clusters may reveal themselves at different values of mpts. To explore results for a range of mpts values, however, one has to run HDBSCAN* for each value in the range independently, which is computationally inefficient. In this paper, we propose an efficient approach to compute all HDBSCAN* hierarchies for a range of mpts values by replacing the graph used by HDBSCAN* with a much smaller graph that is guaranteed to contain the required information. An extensive experimental evaluation shows that with our approach one can obtain over one hundred hierarchies for the computational cost equivalent to running HDBSCAN* about 2 times.Comment: A short version of this paper appears at IEEE ICDM 2017. Corrected typos. Revised abstrac

AUMENTO DA EFICIÊNCIA TÉCNICA NA INDÚSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS DOS ESTADOS BRASILEIROS VIA METAS INTERMEDIÁRIAS

Propôs-se, neste artigo, uma busca de alvos, por etapas, com alvos intermediários nas camadas de iso-eficiência para que o Setor de Fabricação de Produtos Alimentícios e Bebidas (SFPAB) de cada estado atinja, de forma gradual, um nível de eficiência técnica mais elevado. Utilizaram-se dados da Pesquisa Industrial Anual (PIA) de 2005 do IBGE. Aplicou-se a análise envoltória de dados (DEA) orientada ao insumo, tendo-se a receita líquida do setor como produto e como insumos o total do custo das operações industriais (COI) e as remunerações do setor (SRO). Dos 18 estados analisados, São Paulo é o mais eficiente e Santa Catarina, o mais ineficiente. Outros 11 estados são tecnicamente ineficientes, de forma que 6 devem, no curto prazo, buscar a camada 1; 5 a camada 2; e 1 (Santa Catarina) a camada 3. Verificou-se que nas Regiões Sul e Sudeste o SRO é a principal causa de ineficiência, enquanto que para as demais Regiões é o COI.--------------------------------------------------We proposed, in this article, a search of intermediate goals into iso-efficiency layers, so that the Food and Beverage Industry (SFPAB) of each Brazilian State can reach, in a gradual way, a higher level of technique efficiency. The IBGE’s 2005 Annual Industrial Research (PIA) data was applied to an efficiency analysis, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), guided to the input. In this analysis, we assume the industry liquid revenue as output and as inputs the total cost of industrial operations (COI) and the industry remunerations (SRO). São Paulo State is the most efficient of the 18 States analyzed and Santa Catarina State is the most inefficient from them. Other 11 States are technically inefficient, so that 6 States owe to seek the layer 1 in the short-run; 5 the layer 2; and 1 (Santa Catarina State) the layer 3. It was verified that in the South and Southeast Region SRO is principal inefficiency cause while it is COI for the other Regions.Eficiência técnica, Metas intermediárias, DEA, Produtos alimentícios e bebidas, Technical efficiency, Intermediate goals, DEA, Food and beverage industry, Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

EXPORTAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE MELÃO: UM ESTUDO DE SÉRIES TEMPORAIS.

Este estudo apresenta uma análise da exportação brasileira de melões através da verificação das séries volume exportado, preço doméstico e taxa de câmbio utilizando a metodologia VAR, no período de janeiro de 1996 a março de 2007. As séries estudadas eram nãoestacionárias e, por isso optou-se pela utilização do conceito de co-integração. No entanto, o número de vetores de co-integração foi igual ao número de variáveis do modelo e por isso, utilizou-se o modelo Vetorial Auto Regressivo – VAR em nível. A decomposição da variância dos erros de previsão indicou que após choque não antecipado sobre as variáveis, a maior parte do seu comportamento ao longo do tempo continua sendo explicado pela própria variável.---------------------This study presents an analysis of the Brazilian export of melons through the verification of the series exported volume, domestic price and exchange rate using the methodology VAR, in the period of January of 1996 to March of 2007. The studied series were no-stationary and opted for the use of the co-integration concept. However, the number of co-integration vectors was equal to the number of variables of the model and then, the model Vectorial Regressive was used–VAR in level. The decomposition of the variance of the forecast mistakes indicated that after non premature shock on the variables, most of its behavior along the time continues being explained by the own variable.comércio internacional, exportação de melão, VAR, international trade, melons exportation, VAR, International Relations/Trade,

Sustentabilidade e meio ambiente no Brasil: uma análise a partir da curva de Kuznets

O presente trabalho investigou a validade hipótese da Curva de Kuznets – CK, sobre variáveis que se apresentam como Proxy ambiental, e que indicam a sustentabilidade, para os municípios brasileiros para os anos de 1991 e 2000. As variáveis Proxy do meio ambiente foram representadas pelo déficit em água potável, déficit em saneamento básico e déficit na coleta de lixo, outras variáveis, que representam o desenvolvimento sustentável foram taxa de mortalidade infantil, déficit na alfabetização de adultos e expectativa de vida e renda per capita. Todos os resultados indicam que a hipótese de Kuznets não é válida, indicando que essa hipótese é limitada para explicar a questão ambiental e a sustentabilidade nos municípios brasileiros. This paper investigated the validity of the Kuznets hypothesis Curves - KC on variables that are presented as environmental Proxy, and indicate that the sustainability for the Brazilian roughly for the years 1991-2000. The environmental Proxy variables were represented by the deficit in drinking water, sanitation and the collection of garbage, other variables, which represent sustainable development were mortality infant rate, the deficit of adult literacy and life expectancy and per capita income. All results indicate that the Kuznets assumption is not valid, indicating that this hypothesis is limited to explain the environmental and sustainability in Brazilian roughly.Desigualdade, Desenvolvimento econômico, Hipótese de Kuznets, Inequality, Economic development, Kuznets hypothesis, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Pobreza multidimensional intraurbana na região metropolitana de Belém

Aiming to analyse the multiple dimensions of intra-urban poverty in the Metropolitan Region of Belém (RMB) we followed the theoretical background of the Capability Approach and multidimensional poverty and used the Alkire and Santos (2010) methodology for the 2010 census micro-data. The results show that income and multidimensional poverty present quite different performances, showing that some areas considered less poor in multidimensional terms are not necessarily the least poor when evaluated in terms of income. In addition, the areas of weighting, in which income and multidimensional indicators almost coincide, are not in the same position in the general classification of synthetic indicators of poverty assessment.El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las múltiples dimensiones de la pobreza intraurbana en la Región Metropolitana de Belém. Para eso son utilizados los microdatos del Censo de 2010. Se utilizan los marcos teóricos del Enfoque de Capacidad y pobreza multidimensional y se aplica la metodología Alkire y Santos (2010). Los resultados muestran diferencias entre la pobreza monetaria y la pobreza multidimensional y muestran que las áreas consideradas menos pobres en términos multidimensionales no son las misma cuando se evalúan en términos monetarios. Se observa también que las áreas de ponderación, en las que el ingreso y los indicadores multidimensionales prácticamente coinciden, no están en la misma posición en la clasificación general de los indicadores sintéticos de evaluación de la pobreza. Además, la composición de la privación de los hogares difiere entre las áreas de ponderación y la incidencia de la pobreza multidimensional sigue siendo alta, incluso después de los avances sociales ampliamente reportados en la literatura en los últimos 15 años.O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as múltiplas dimensões da pobreza intraurbana na Região Metropolitana de Belém, por meio dos microdados do Censo de 2010. Para isso, são utilizados os arcabouços teóricos da Abordagem das Capacitações e da pobreza multidimensional e aplica-se a metodologia de Alkire e Santos (2010). Os resultados evidenciam existência de diferenças entre a pobreza monetária e a pobreza multidimensional e mostram que áreas consideradas menos pobres em termos multidimensionais não são as mesmas quando avaliadas em termos monetários. Percebe-se que as áreas de ponderação, em que praticamente coincidem os indicadores de renda e o multidimensional, não estão na mesma posição na classificação geral dos indicadores sintéticos de avaliação sobre pobreza. Adicionalmente, a composição de privações domiciliares difere entre as áreas de ponderação e a incidência da pobreza multidimensional ainda é elevada, mesmo após os avanços sociais vastamente relatados na literatura nos últimos 15 anos

Use of a candidate gene array to delineate gene expression patterns in cattle selected for resistance or susceptibility to intestinal nematodes

In the present study, we use microarray technology to investigate the expression patterns of 381 genes with known association to host immune responses. Hybridization targets were derived from previously characterized bovine cDNAs. A total of 576 reporters (473 sequence-validated cDNAs and 77 controls) were spotted onto glass slides in two sets of four replicates. Two color, comparative hybridizations across both mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and small intestine mucosa (SIM) RNA samples were done between animals with previously demonstrated phenotypic differences based on natural exposure to gastro- intestinal (GI) nematodes over a 6-month exposure period. A total of 138 significant hybridization differences were detected by mixed model analysis of variance. A subset of these significant differences was validated by quantitative, real-time RT-PCR to assay transcript levels for 18 genes. These results confirmed that in the SIM, susceptible animals showed significantly higher levels in the genes encoding IGHG1, CD3E, ACTB, IRF1, CCL5 and C3, while in the MLN of resistant animals, higher levels of expression were confirmed for PTPRC, CD1D and ITGA4. Combined, the results indicate that immune responses against GI nematode infections involve multiple response pathways. Higher levels of expression for IgE receptor, integrins, complement, monocyte/macrophage and tissue factors are related to resistance. In contrast, higher levels of expression for immunoglobulin chains and TCRs are related to susceptibility. Identification of these genes provides a framework to better understand the genetic variation underlying parasite resistance

Effects of nitrogen fertilization and seasons on the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Piatã (Brachiaria brizantha) grass

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Piatã grass under rotational stocking and nitrogen fertilization during the seasons. A randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with three replications was used. The main plots were the applications of 0, 150, 300 and 450 kg per ha of N in the form of urea, and the subplots were seasons of the year: late summer/fall, winter, spring and summer. No interaction was detected between nitrogen fertilization and season for leaf appearance rate, leaf lifespan, number of live leaves and final length leaves. However, an interaction (P<0.05) of nitrogen fertilization and season influenced leaf elongation rate, phyllochron, leaf senescence rate and stem elongation rate. The leaf elongation rate and leaf appearance rate were linearly affected (P<0.05) by nitrogen fertilization. The seasons affected (P<0.05) the leaf lifespan and number of life leaves. The leaf lifespan decreased by 0.06 days for each kg of N applied. On the other hand, the number of live leaves increased by 0.0026 leaves/tiller for each kg of N. Fertilization with nitrogen positively affects morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Piatã grass under rotational stocking. This effect can be optimized during rainy periods in spring and late summer/autumn.The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Piatã grass under rotational stocking and nitrogen fertilization during the seasons. A randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with three replications was used. The main plots were the applications of 0, 150, 300 and 450 kg per ha of N in the form of urea, and the subplots were seasons of the year: late summer/fall, winter, spring and summer. No interaction was detected between nitrogen fertilization and season for leaf appearance rate, leaf lifespan, number of live leaves and final length leaves. However, an interaction (P<0.05) of nitrogen fertilization and season influenced leaf elongation rate, phyllochron, leaf senescence rate and stem elongation rate. The leaf elongation rate and leaf appearance rate were linearly affected (P<0.05) by nitrogen fertilization. The seasons affected (P<0.05) the leaf lifespan and number of life leaves. The leaf lifespan decreased by 0.06 days for each kg of N applied. On the other hand, the number of live leaves increased by 0.0026 leaves/tiller for each kg of N. Fertilization with nitrogen positively affects morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Piatã grass under rotational stocking. This effect can be optimized during rainy periods in spring and late summer/autumn