Who is Tracking Me on the Web?

Lately, online privacy is an issue that has been gaining the focus of the media because more and more companies have adopted business models which offer its customers free services and increasing its value by manipulating and possibly selling the information acquired by gathering the data from its users on the web. These methods are diverse and have benefited from the technology advancements in the internet browsers and the evolution of technologies such as HTLM5 and JavaScript. This dissertation aims to gather and analyze the information regarding the tracking that takes place in the Portuguese online market, this will be supported by a detailed state of the art of the technologies and methods used in the gathering of user information. To identify the major players in web tracking the study will analyze the websites which Portuguese users frequently visit and evaluate their prevalence and the methods used to gather the information. With the goal of identifying those entities. With this research, the author pretends to inform the public of who are the main entities involve in the process of collecting personal information, its methods used and how to prevent it. A Paper based on a subset of 300 websites using the same framework and analysis tool of this research was published for the symposium INForum 2016, which took place in September of 2016.A privacidade na internet têm sido um tópico que nos últimos anos tem vindo a ganhar atenção dos média. Cada vez mais empresas adotam modelos de negócios que oferecem serviços gratuitos aos utilizadores, gerando valor por tratar e possivelmente vender informação adquirida pela recolha de dados da utilização dos websites. Os métodos de recolha são variados e tiram proveito dos avanços tecnológicos dos browsers e das tecnologias à sua volta, por exemplo HTLM5 e JavaScript. Esta dissertação pretende reunir e analisar a informação relativa as tecnologias usadas para a recolha informação no mercado online português, vai ser suportado por um detalhado estado da arte das tecnologias e métodos usados na recolha de informação dos utilizadores. Para identificar as principais entidades envolvidas na perda de privacidade dos utilizadores, este estudo vai analisar os websites que os portugueses mais frequentam e avaliar a prevalência dessas entidades e os métodos por esses usados. Com esta investigação pretende-se informar as pessoas de quem são as principais entidades envolvidas nos processos de recolha de informação pessoal, os métodos usados e como o prevenir. Um artigo baseado num subconjunto de 300 websites utilizando a mesma framework e mesma ferramenta de analise foi publicado para o simpósio INForum 2016 que se realizou em setembro de 2016

Estimativa de inadimplência na concessão de crédito agrícola pela utilização do modelo de regressão logística: o caso de uma cooperativa de crédito

This paper aims at developing a model that may help a credit cooperative in the region of Toledo, Paraná, in the analysis and concession of agricultural credit, estimating the probability of execution of the contracts, what permits to predict a possible default, using the logistic regression model – Logit. The theoretical framework used, based on the Theory of Transaction Costs, identifies the default as the result of the incompleteness of contracts and the asymmetry of information between borrowers and the credit cooperative, in order to avoid the granting of credit to possible defaulters. To do so, we collected information on the borrowers from the records of the cooperative from 2004 to 2007, aiming at drawing a profile of the credit borrower. Later, we estimated the logistic regression model for 10 different samples to identify the one that received the greatest number of hits between payers and defaulters. We established that the estimated model was more efficient to identify the payers’ contracts than the defaulters’ contracts. Even with a rather low percentual average of accuracy the model may help the cooperative’s decision making in granting credit.Este trabalho objetiva desenvolver um modelo que possa auxiliar uma cooperativa de crédito da região de Toledo na análise e concessão de crédito agrícola calculando a probabilidade de cumprimento dos contratos, o que permite antever os possíveis contratos inadimplentes, utilizando-se o Modelo de Regressão Logística – Logit. O referencial teórico utilizado, baseado na Teoria dos Custos de Transação, identifica a inadimplência como sendo resultado da incompletude dos contratos e da assimetria de informações entre as partes envolvidas em uma transação. Espera-se que esse modelo possa reduzir a assimetria de informações entre os tomadores e a cooperativa de crédito, no intuito de evitar a concessão de crédito a possíveis inadimplentes. Para isso, coletou-se junto à cooperativa, objeto do estudo, informações cadastrais dos tomadores de crédito, no período de 2004 a 2007, objetivando traçar-lhes um perfil. Posteriormente estimou-se o Modelo de Regressão Logística para 10 amostras aleatórias diferentes, a fim de identificar a amostra que obtivesse o maior número de acertos entre adimplentes e inadimplentes. Constatou-se que o modelo estimado foi mais eficiente para identificar os contratos adimplentes que os inadimplentes, e que mesmo com um percentual médio de acerto não muito elevado o modelo pode auxiliar a tomada de decisão da cooperativa na concessão de crédito

Nasal reconstruction with paramedian frontal flap after cancer resection

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequent type of tumoral lesion of the skin, often affecting the nasal region. The resulting defects require the use of nasal reconstruction techniques. The first plastic surgery described is the nasal reconstruction, according to the Indian method. Over the centuries, it has been the object of several modifications by the biggest names in the specialty, culminating in the paramedian frontal flap. Case Report: A 62-year-old male patient went to the Plastic Surgery Service of the Federal Hospital of Ipanema, presenting an ulcerated, scaly lesion, occupying the entire lateral region of the nose with three years of evolution, suggesting at physical examination malignant skin tumor. It was performed cutaneous lesion excision and immediate reconstruction with a paramedian frontal flap and further refinement surgery. Conclusion: Due to its vascularization by the supratrochlear artery and texture similar to the nasal tissue, the paramedian frontal flap is the gold standard for the correction of significant nasal defects

Proteins selected in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis by an immunoproteomic approach with potential serodiagnosis applications for tegumentary leishmaniasis

The serodiagnosis of human tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) presents some problems, such as the low level of antileishmanial antibodies found in most of the patients, as well as the cross-reactivity in subjects infected by other trypanosomatids. In the present study, an immunoproteomic approach was performed aimed at identification of antigens in total extracts of stationaryphase promastigote and amastigote-like forms of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis using sera from TL patients. With the purpose of reducing the cross-reactivity of the identified proteins, spots recognized by sera from TL patients, as well as those recognized by antibodies present in sera from noninfected patients living in areas where TL is endemic and sera from Chagas disease patients, were discarded. Two Leishmania hypothetical proteins and 18 proteins with known functions were identified as antigenic. The study was extended with some of them to validate the results of the immunoscreening. The coding regions of five of the characterized antigens (enolase, tryparedoxin peroxidase, eukaryotic initiation factor 5a, β-tubulin, and one of the hypothetical proteins) were cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector, and the corresponding recombinant proteins were purified and evaluated for the serodiagnosis of TL. The antigens presented sensitivity and specificity values ranging from 95.4 to 100% and 82.5 to 100%, respectively. As a comparative antigen, a preparation of Leishmania extract showed sensitivity and specificity values of 65.1 and 57.5%, respectively. The present study has enabled the identification of proteins able to be employed for the serodiagnosis of TLThis work was supported by grants from Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nano-biofarmacêutica (INCT-Nanobiofar), FAPEMIG (CBB-APQ-00496-11 and CBB-APQ-00819-12), and CNPq (APQ- 472090/2011-9, APQ-482976/2012-8, and APQ-488237/2013-0). In addition, this study was partially funded in Madrid by a Spanish grant from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-FEDER (FISPI14/00366 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III). M.A.C.F. is a grant recipient of FAPEMIG/CAPES. E.A.F.C., A.P.F., and M.O.C.R. are recipients of grants from CNP

Arbustus unedo essence: morphological and genetic characterization of the strawberry tree of Castelo de Paiva

O medronheiro é um arbusto da região mediterrânica que pode ser encontrada por todo o país. Ao contrário do que verifica na região sul do país, no concelho de Castelo de Paiva é atribuída uma reduzida importância económica a esta espécie. Com o intuito de preservar e potenciar a produção desta espécie e contribuir para a dinamização da economia do concelho, procedeu-se à caracterização morfológica e genética de uma amostra da população de medronheiros de Castelo de Paiva. A caracterização morfológica e genética foi realizada para um total de 10 genótipos. Para tal recolheram-se 70 folhas aleatoriamente em cada árvore. Em 40 folhas mediu-se o comprimento, largura, comprimento do pedúnculo, peso fresco, peso seco e determinou-se a área foliar. Dos caracteres morfológicos analisados, aqueles que se revelaram mais úteis na distinção dos vários genótipos foram: comprimento do pedúnculo, peso fresco e peso seco. As restantes 30 folhas foram utilizadas para a caracterização genética. Esta caracterização foi realizada recorrendo a um marcador de DNA, ISSR. Os 5 primeiros exemplaresutilizados na técnica de ISSR demonstraram-se polimórficos. Os resultados da caracterização genética sugerem que a variabilidade genética na população é média a alta.The strawberry tree is a shrub native in the Mediterranean region and it can be found throughout Portugal. Unlike the case in the southern region of the country, in Castelo de Paiva a minor economic importance is given to this species. In order to preserve, to enhance the production of this species and to contribute to the boosting of the economy of the region, we proceeded to the characterization of a small sample population of this fruit tree of Castelo de Paiva in what concerns to its morphology and genetics. The morphological and genetic characterization was performed for a total of 10 genotypes. For this, 70 leaves were randomly collected from each tree. For 40 leaves, it was measured the length, the width, the peduncle length, the wet weight, the dry weight and determined the leaf area. Of the morphological characteristics analyzed, the ones that proved most useful in distinguishing the various genotypes were: the length peduncle, the wet weight and the dry weight. The remaining 30 leaves were used in the genetic characterization. This characterization was performed using a DNA marker, the ISSR. The 5 primers used in the ISSR technique proved to be polymorphic. The results from the genetic characterization suggest that variability in population genetics is medium to high

Large-scale screening of unknown varieties in a grapevine intra-varietal variability collection

Since the last decade of the last century, it is known that many old grapevine varieties are descendants of other varieties through natural crossing. Portugal has an important program for the conservation of representative samples of intra-varietal variability of all autochthonous varieties, managed by the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity (PORVID), which makes looking for genotypes with dubious identification an important activity from a perspective of its valorisation. This communication presents the results of the molecular analysis of 5,000 samples (accessions) from the PORVID’s collection, using nine microsatellite loci currently recommended by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) for genetic grapevine identification. The results obtained confirmed the molecular identity of 4,220 samples corresponding to 214 varieties present in the official list of Portuguese varieties. In 780 samples, 95 profiles with a plural number of accessions revealed not to be listed in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) database, corresponding to possible varieties either descendent from natural crossing from at least one known parental variety, or from undetermined origin. Furthermore, the need for a comprehensive strategy aimed at uncovering other hidden varieties is discussed to prevent their imminent loss, deepen understanding of their origin, and add economic value and sustainability to the vine and wine sector

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info: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 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