Artificial intelligence to growth stresses predicting in Eucalyptus clones using dendrometric variables and wood density

Eucalyptus planted forests contribute to maximizing lumber production but problems such as longitudinal growth strain can negatively influence the quality of the products. Knowing dendrometric variables and wood properties can help in the prediction of longitudinal growth strain, mainly with the help of artificial intelligence. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the use of artificial neural networks to predict longitudinal growth strain in Eucalyptus trees based on dendrometric variables, spacing between trees and wood density. The longitudinal growth strain was measured in trees of four Eucalyptus clones planted in three spacings. The diameter and height of each tree were measured. The basic wood density was determined. Artificial neural networks were used to estimate longitudinal growth strain as a function of dendrometric variables, tree spacing and wood density. The results showed that the artificial neural networks presented good results for training and validation, with most of them resulting in high correlation coefficient values. The trained artificial neural networks showed a correlation coefficient above 0,56. Artificial neural networks showed that the variables clone and basic wood density were the ones that most contributed to the prediction of longitudinal growth strain. On the other hand, the spacing between trees, the height of the tree and the diameter at breast height were not relevant to predict growth stresses

Landscape Transformation: Temporal Evolution of the Erosion Process on a Hillside on the Island of Itamaracá / Brazil

Urban planning is important to guarantee the quality of life for society, as it proposes spatial planning and problem solving, especially those related to land use. Thus, it was proposed to perform an evaluation of actions that promote and/or accelerate the erosive processes on a hillside located in island of Itamaracá/BR. The “interaction networks” and “land use maps” techniques were used in combination, which resulted in a more accurate environmental assessment, as well as the use of models for future estimates. The results pointed to mediumrisk for the environmental indicators of “occupation types” and evidence of collapse”, and high risk for“urban density”and“vegetation”indicators. It has also been predicted that over the years, the urban sprawl in the area will continue to grow until it reaches stability due to the total occupation of useful areas as well as that the growth rate for vegetation will be negative. Thus, there is a need to mitigate environmental damage in the short term, in order to avoid the occurrence of accidents in the hillside area

As licenciaturas em química nos institutos federais do estado de Goiás: um perfil de formação e pesquisa dos professores formadores

Apresenta-se um breve histórico da trajetória dos Institutos Federais (IFs) no Brasil, a criação dos cursos de Licenciatura em Química nestas instituições de ensino e um levantamento da expansão dos cursos de licenciaturas em química presenciais nos IF de todo Brasil após o REUNI. Aprofunda-se essa discussão a partir dos cursos de licenciatura dos IFGoiás e IFGoiano, que são os dois IFs sediados no estado de Goiás e discute-se a formação dos docentes formadores de professores de química em relação a sua formação inicial e continuada e ao desenvolvimento de suas pesquisas na área de Ensino de Química. Inferiu-se com o desenvolvimento dessa pesquisa que não são todos os professores formadores que possuem a formação adequada para estarem ministrando disciplinas de ensino e, além disso, identificou-se que estes professores não estão trabalhando o contexto da formação pela pesquisa na licenciatura em química na formação inicial dos licenciando

Undergraduate courses in computing in Brazil: perspective from the Brazilian Performance Assessment Exam (ENADE)

Considerando-se a expansão da graduação em Computação no Brasil, esse trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a série histórica desses cursos entre 2008 e 2014 de acordo com o Exame Nacional de Avaliação de Desempenho (ENADE). Classifica-se de natureza exploratória e descritiva e abordagem quantitativa, a partir de pesquisa documental. Como principais resultados, destaca-se a Região Nordeste como mais profícua em notas de conceito ‘5’, crescendo também sua presença no ENADE. Destaque também para Paraíba e Sergipe, estados com melhor conceito ‘5’. Ademais, as instituições públicas se destacam perante as privadas, enquanto os maiores cursos do país são: Sistemas de Informação, Ciência da Computação e Tecnologia em Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas.Considering the expansion of undergraduate courses in Computing in Brazil, this work aims to analyze the historical series of these courses between 2008 and 2014 according to Brazilian National Examination of Performance Evaluation (ENADE). It is classified of exploratory and descriptive nature and quantitative approach, based on documentary. As main results, the Northeastern Region stands out as the most profitable in concept notes '5', also increasing its presence in ENADE. Highlight also for Paraíba and Sergipe, brazilian states with better concept '5'. In addition, public institutions stand out from the private sector, while the largest courses in Brazil are: Information Systems, Computer Science and Technology in Systems Analysis and Development.Facultad de Informátic

Óleos essenciais, estimulação química de resina e ocorrência de galhas de três espécies amazônicas de Protium

Protium is the most frequent genus of Burseraceae in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve (Manaus, Amazonas), which is where its species were previously identified and mapped and this has favored various studies of this central Amazon forest. A number of P. divaricatum Engl., P. opacum Swart and P. strumosum Daly trees were selected with the objective of providing information about their chemical and biological aspects. Resin exudation was stimulated with the use of ethephon and the essential oils from the aerial parts and the resin were evaluated using GC. The occurrence of galls was also registered. The hydrocarbon sesquiterpene ß-caryophyllene was detected in high percentages in the essential oils of leaves and twigs of P. divaricatum (52.75% and 14.74%) and P. opacum (39.55% and 17.86%), respectively. The predominant oxygenated sesquiterpenes were spathulenol in the leaves (19.52%) and twigs (31.29%) of P. divaricatum, in addition to khusimone (32.36%) in the twigs of P. opacum. Monoterpenes were identified in the essential oils of the P. strumosum resin, with p-cymene (58.97%) predominating in the naturally exuded resin, limonene (61.45%) and p-cimen-8-ol (53.92%) in the resin of the first and second extraction with ethephon, respectively. On the trees, galls were identified that will help in the identification of the three species.Protium é o gênero mais frequente de Burseraceae da Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke (Manaus, Amazonas), onde as suas espécies foram previamente identificadas e mapeadas favorecendo os vários estudos dessa floresta da Amazônia Central. Selecionamos algumas árvores de P. divaricatum, P. opacum e P. strumosum como o objetivo de fornecer informações sobre seus aspectos químicos e biológicos. Estimulamos à exsudação de resina com o uso de ethephon e avaliamos por CG os seus óleos essenciais das partes aéreas e resina. Registramos também a ocorrência de galhas. O sesquiterpeno hidrocarboneto ß-caryophyllene foi detectado em altos percentuais nos óleos essenciais de folhas e galhos de P. divaricatum (52.75% e14.74%) e P. opacum (39.55% e 17.86 %), respectivamente. Os sesquiterpenos oxigenados predominantes foram o espatulenol de folhas (19.52%) e galhos (31.29%) of P. divaricatum além da khusimona (32.36%) dos galhos de P. opacum. Nos óleos essenciais da resina de P. strumosum foram identificados monoterpenos, predominando o p-cymene (58.97%) na resina exsudada naturalmente, limonemo (61.45%) e p-cimen-8-ol (53.92%) na resina da primeira e segunda extração com ethephon, respectivamente. Nas árvores, foram identificadas galhas que auxiliarão na identificação das três espécies

Biogeographical ancestry is associated with socioenvironmental conditions and infections in a Latin American urban population.

Racial inequalities are observed for different diseases and are mainly caused by differences in socioeconomic status between ethnoracial groups. Genetic factors have also been implicated, and recently, several studies have investigated the association between biogeographical ancestry (BGA) and complex diseases. However, the role of BGA as a proxy for non-genetic health determinants has been little investigated. Similarly, studies comparing the association of BGA and self-reported skin colour with these determinants are scarce. Here, we report the association of BGA and self-reported skin colour with socioenvironmental conditions and infections. We studied 1246 children living in a Brazilian urban poor area. The BGA was estimated using 370,539 genome-wide autosomal markers. Standardised questionnaires were administered to the children's guardians to evaluate socioenvironmental conditions. Infection (or pathogen exposure) was defined by the presence of positive serologic test results for IgG to seven pathogens (Toxocara spp, Toxoplasma gondii, Helicobacter pylori, and hepatitis A, herpes simplex, herpes zoster and Epstein-Barr viruses) and the presence of intestinal helminth eggs in stool samples (Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichiuris trichiura). African ancestry was negatively associated with maternal education and household income and positively associated with infections and variables, indicating poorer housing and living conditions. The self-reported skin colour was associated with infections only. In stratified analyses, the proportion of African ancestry was associated with most of the outcomes investigated, particularly among admixed individuals. In conclusion, BGA was associated with socioenvironmental conditions and infections even in a low-income and highly admixed population, capturing differences that self-reported skin colour miss. Importantly, our findings suggest caution in interpreting significant associations between BGA and diseases as indicative of the genetic factors involved