Quantum corrections to gravity and their implications for cosmology and astrophysics

The quantum contributions to the gravitational action are relatively easy to calculate in the higher derivative sector of the theory. However, the applications to the post-inflationary cosmology and astrophysics require the corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action and to the cosmological constant, and those we can not derive yet in a consistent and safe way. At the same time, if we assume that these quantum terms are covariant and that they have relevant magnitude, their functional form can be defined up to a single free parameter, which can be defined on the phenomenological basis. It turns out that the quantum correction may lead, in principle, to surprisingly strong and interesting effects in astrophysics and cosmology.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX, WS style, contribution to the Proceedings of the QFEXT-2011 conference in the Centro de Ciencias de Benasque Pedro Pasqual, Spai

Molecular Evaluation of exons 8 and 22 of the SHANK3 gene in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with a complex and heterogeneous etiology. Studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in the aetiology of these diseases. Recently, de novo mutations, frameshifts and deletions have been described in the SHANK3 gene, also known as ProSAP2 gene, which encodes a synaptic scaffolding protein. All the participants of this study had normal karyotypes and underwent screening for Fragile-X syndrome. Subsequently, they were analyzed by direct sequencing of different points of exons 8 and 22 of the SHANK3 gene. None of the study participants presented with changes in these regions. These findings may be due to the fact that mutations, deletions and duplications of the SHANK3 gene are rare

Mineração de dados climáticos para previsão de geada e deficiência hídrica para as culturas do café e da cana-de-açúcar para o Estado de São Paulo.

Introdução. Mineração de dados. O Estado de São Paulo e o agronegócio. Café e cana-de-açucar. Geada x café. Deficiência hídrica x café x. Cana-de-açúcar. Previsão meteorológica. Metodologia. Resultados esperados.bitstream/CNPTIA/9945/1/doc20.pdfAcesso em: 29 maio 2008

Árvores de decisão induzidas pelo weka para alerta da ferrugem do cafeeiro em lavouras com alta carga pendente.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver árvores de decisão com o software livre Weka para alerta da ferrugem do cafeeiro em lavouras com alta carga pendente de frutos e comparar esses modelos com as árvores de decisão induzidas por um software proprietário. Dados de incidência mensal da doença no campo coletados durante oito anos foram transformados em valores binários considerando limites de 5 e 10 pontos percentuais (p.p.) na taxa de infecção. Foi gerado um modelo para cada taxa de infecção binária, a partir de dados meteorológicos e do espaçamento entre plantas. O alerta é indicado quando a taxa de infecção, prevista para o prazo de um mês, atingir ou ultrapassar o respectivo limite. As árvores de decisão induzidas pelo Weka tiveram desempenho semelhante às induzidas pelo software proprietário. Os modelos de alerta para o limite de 5 p.p. induzidos pelas duas ferramentas são praticamente iguais. O modelo considerando o limite de 10 p.p. induzido pelo Weka é mais simples e compacto que o induzido pelo software proprietário.SBIAgro 2009

How gamification can influence the webdesign and the customer to use the e-banking systems

The gamification is growing in e-business and the banks are looking for new ways to get more customers on their websites. Therefore, it is important to study what are the most appreciated features of the website that could influence the behaviour of the customer to use an electronic banking system with game features. The gamified e-banking suggests that rich elements/features associated with the games could influence other variables and therefore increasing the client loyalty, to spend more time and increasing the transactions on the website. The aim of this study is to look into the influence of gamification in the e-banking system. Based on the research of 180 publications and 210 variables that could influence the intention to use a certain technology this study develops a theoretical model representing the gamification influence on ease of use, information, web pages characteristics, web design and on the intention to use an e-banking with game features. The results from an online survey of 219 e-banking customers show that the gamification had a positive impact on all variables; special has a medium positive influence in web design and information and a large positive influence on customer intentions to use. Further analysis shows that the website ease of use plays has also a medium positive influence on the intention to use an e-banking gamified. Our findings also show that the clients give more importance to an attractive graphical and architecture website design, and less to web pages with so much information or having pleasure in using an e-banking system.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Heteronormative beliefs and internalized homonegativity in the coming out process of Portuguese and Turkish sexual minority men

Introduction Studies examining why heteronormative beliefs shape the coming out process of sexual minority men are still scarce. This study aimed to examine whether heteronormative beliefs result in more internalized homonegativity and more sexual identity stigma. We also compared socio-cultural contexts—Portugal and Turkey—with distinct social policies toward sexual minority people. Lastly, we explored the correlates of coming out to friends and family members. Methods A cross-sectional study with 562 sexual minority men (93.4% cisgender; Mage = 26.69, SD = 9.59) from Portugal and Turkey was conducted between March and July 2019. Results Heteronormative beliefs were associated with increased internalized homonegativity and, in turn, with increased sexual identity stigma (identity stigma and social discomfort). This mediation was moderated by country, such that conditional direct effects were stronger among Turkish sexual minority men. Conditional indirect effects, however, were stronger among Portuguese sexual minority men. Furthermore, less internalized homonegativity and less social discomfort were associated with coming out to friends and family members in different ways. Conclusions This study contributed to the understanding of sexual identity development and acceptance among sexual minority men in two distinct socio-cultural contexts. Findings showed that the internalization of heteronormative beliefs was associated with identity stigma and highlighted the role of socialization in these processes. Policy Implications For people working with sexual minority men from diverse socio-cultural contexts, our findings can offer new insights on how to offer the best help in the coming out process of these sexual minority men.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Árvores de decisão aplicadas na análise e no alerta da ferrugem do cafeeiro.

A ferrugem do cafeeiro é a principal doença da cultura do café. O conhecimento dos fatores que condicionam as epidemias de ferrugem e a sua previsão são importantes. Uma instância do processo de descoberta de conhecimento em bases de dados foi realizada para avaliar a aplicação de árvores de decisão na análise e no alerta da ferrugem. As classes do atributo meta foram definidas por intervalos da taxa de progresso da doença. Dados meteorológicos, a carga pendente de frutos e o espaçamento entre plantas serviram de atributos preditivos. As árvores de decisão obtidas auxiliaram na compreensão de quais variáveis, e como as interações dessas variáveis, conduziram a ferrugem no campo. O modelo de alerta para lavouras com alta carga pendente de frutos apresentou bom desempenho e pode ajudar na tomada de decisão referente ao controle da ferrugem do cafeeiro.bitstream/item/17768/1/cnptiabp_22-1.pd

Assessing consumer literacy on financial complex products

Consumer financial education has become an important research topic, due to the growth of a wide range of investment products available in online banking. The individuals are exposed to highly complex financial products without understanding the risk and what product is suitable for them. This study investigates and measured the financial education of individuals in complex financial products. A quiz game was developed for a bank website to measure 1597 bank clients in complex products literacy. The survey also enabled a comparison between the basic and advanced skills of financial literacy knowledge. The results highlight a satisfactory overall financial literacy level. While basic knowledge level between individuals has a higher degree, there are serious concerns in advanced skill level. This study contributes to an understanding of adults’ knowledge about the prediction of the risk of investments in complex financial products, as well as providing value to ongoing financial literacy research.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio