Simulação de modelos mistos no delineamento em blocos aumentado

The augmented block design is widely used in breeding programs, with non-replicated treatments generally being selection units, and replicated treatments being standard cultivars. Originally, an intrablock analysis (fixed model) was proposed. Although non-replicated treatments and/or blocks can be considered of random nature, mixed linear models could be used instead. This work evaluated such an approach, using computer simulation. Populations consisted of sets of randomly generated inbred lines. Molecular marker data were also simulated to allow the estimation of the genetic covariance matrix. Different conditions were considered, varying heritability and the coefficient b of Smith of soil heterogeneity. For each condition 100 simulations were performed, considering four linear models, varying respectively the nature of the effects of blocks and non-replicated treatments (fixed - F, or random - R): FF, FR, RF and RR. In relation to FF, the mixed models were more efficient under low to intermediate heritability and high b. Mixed models could improve inference in breeding programs using the augmented block design and the choice of the model should rely on the kind of selection. If this is truncated, the RF model should be preferred; if it is not, then the RR model would be more suitable.O delineamento em blocos aumentados é amplamente utilizado em programas de melhoramento, geralmente com tratamentos não-repetidos correspondentes a unidades de seleção, e tratamentos repetidos sendo cultivares comerciais. Originalmente, uma análise intrablocos (modelo fixo) foi sugerida. No entanto, se os tratamentos não-repetidos e/ou blocos puderem ser considerados de natureza aleatória, modelos lineares mistos poderiam ser utilizados. Este estudo objetivou a avaliação de tal abordagem, utilizando simulação. Linhagens endogâmicas foram geradas aleatoriamente, bem como dados de marcação molecular, para estimar a matriz de covariâncias genéticas. Variaram-se a herdabilidade e o coeficiente b de heterogeneidade de solo de Smith; em cada condição, 100 simulações foram feitas, considerando 4 modelos lineares, variando respectivamente a natureza dos efeitos de bloco e de tratamentos não-repetidos (fixo -- F, ou aleatório -- A): FF, FA, AF e AA. Em relação ao modelo FF, os modelos mistos foram mais eficientes especialmente sob herdabilidade baixa a intermediária e alto b. Modelos mistos podem melhorar a inferência em programas de melhoramento utilizando o delineamento, e a escolha do modelo deve se basear no tipo de seleção. Se esta for truncada, o modelo AF deveria ser preferido; se não for, então o modelo AA é mais apropriado

The perspective of science and religion in high school biology teachers in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay: a comparative study

7th World Conference on Educational Sciences, (WCES-2015), 05-07 February 2015, Athens, Greece.The relationship between science and religion has been marked by historically constructed movements of proximity and conflict. We have investigated how high school biology teachers from three countries with different relationships between State and religion, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, conceive the science-religion relationship. Uruguay has consolidated secularism, Argentina has an official religion and Brazil calls itself secular, but its secularism is only relative. Fifty high school biology teachers from each country answered the European BIOHEAD-CITIZEN data collection questionnaire, which investigates teachers' conceptions of biological evolution, health, sexuality, and other topics. The question used was "Should science and religion be separate?" Conflict, independence, dialogue and integration categories were considered in the analysis and the results were submitted to parametric testing. Most Uruguayan high school biology teachers tended to agree with the investigated question, with a lower ratio in Brazil, followed by Argentina. Uruguayan teachers tended to be more assertive in their agreement. The main category was partially confirmed as teachers from Uruguay, the country with a greater secular tradition, tended to agree with the separation between science and religion. In Brazil and Argentina, the category was not confirmed. In Brazil, a self-proclaimed secular country, high school biology teachers were more opposed to the separation between science and religion, while in Argentina, a country with an official religion, they supported the possibility of dialogue and integration between them. We concluded that the respondents felt that science and religion should be separate, but trends varied according to the historical and cultural religiosity features of the selected countries, with a partial influence of secularism on the responses.CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), Portuga

Simulation of mixed models in augmented block design Simulação de modelos mistos no delineamento em blocos aumentado

The augmented block design is widely used in breeding programs, with non-replicated treatments generally being selection units, and replicated treatments being standard cultivars. Originally, an intrablock analysis (fixed model) was proposed. Although non-replicated treatments and/or blocks can be considered of random nature, mixed linear models could be used instead. This work evaluated such an approach, using computer simulation. Populations consisted of sets of randomly generated inbred lines. Molecular marker data were also simulated to allow the estimation of the genetic covariance matrix. Different conditions were considered, varying heritability and the coefficient b of Smith of soil heterogeneity. For each condition 100 simulations were performed, considering four linear models, varying respectively the nature of the effects of blocks and non-replicated treatments (fixed - F, or random - R): FF, FR, RF and RR. In relation to FF, the mixed models were more efficient under low to intermediate heritability and high b. Mixed models could improve inference in breeding programs using the augmented block design and the choice of the model should rely on the kind of selection. If this is truncated, the RF model should be preferred; if it is not, then the RR model would be more suitable.<br>O delineamento em blocos aumentados é amplamente utilizado em programas de melhoramento, geralmente com tratamentos não-repetidos correspondentes a unidades de seleção, e tratamentos repetidos sendo cultivares comerciais. Originalmente, uma análise intrablocos (modelo fixo) foi sugerida. No entanto, se os tratamentos não-repetidos e/ou blocos puderem ser considerados de natureza aleatória, modelos lineares mistos poderiam ser utilizados. Este estudo objetivou a avaliação de tal abordagem, utilizando simulação. Linhagens endogâmicas foram geradas aleatoriamente, bem como dados de marcação molecular, para estimar a matriz de covariâncias genéticas. Variaram-se a herdabilidade e o coeficiente b de heterogeneidade de solo de Smith; em cada condição, 100 simulações foram feitas, considerando 4 modelos lineares, variando respectivamente a natureza dos efeitos de bloco e de tratamentos não-repetidos (fixo -- F, ou aleatório -- A): FF, FA, AF e AA. Em relação ao modelo FF, os modelos mistos foram mais eficientes especialmente sob herdabilidade baixa a intermediária e alto b. Modelos mistos podem melhorar a inferência em programas de melhoramento utilizando o delineamento, e a escolha do modelo deve se basear no tipo de seleção. Se esta for truncada, o modelo AF deveria ser preferido; se não for, então o modelo AA é mais apropriado