Modeling Epistemological Principles for Bias Mitigation in AI Systems: An Illustration in Hiring Decisions

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used extensively in automatic decision making in a broad variety of scenarios, ranging from credit ratings for loans to recommendations of movies. Traditional design guidelines for AI models focus essentially on accuracy maximization, but recent work has shown that economically irrational and socially unacceptable scenarios of discrimination and unfairness are likely to arise unless these issues are explicitly addressed. This undesirable behavior has several possible sources, such as biased datasets used for training that may not be detected in black-box models. After pointing out connections between such bias of AI and the problem of induction, we focus on Popper's contributions after Hume's, which offer a logical theory of preferences. An AI model can be preferred over others on purely rational grounds after one or more attempts at refutation based on accuracy and fairness. Inspired by such epistemological principles, this paper proposes a structured approach to mitigate discrimination and unfairness caused by bias in AI systems. In the proposed computational framework, models are selected and enhanced after attempts at refutation. To illustrate our discussion, we focus on hiring decision scenarios where an AI system filters in which job applicants should go to the interview phase

Os bebês na Educação Infantil: um olhar para as relações creche e famílias

Considering that the child’s entry into daycare center - especially during the first year of life - maintains as a controversial thematic and involves many times divergent conceptions, this article discusses aspects concerning the relationships family-school, proposing reflections about everyday situations. Therefore, we will analyze the words of a mother who was interviewed after the adaptation of her baby to the daycare center, some aspects and possible ways to the organization of work with families in the area of early childhood education institution. Finally, it proposes three areas of action that can promote the formation of childhood education spaces that include the perspective of comprehensiveness in the care and education of children.A entrada do bebê nas instituições de Educação Infantil, especialmente em seu primeiro ano de vida, ainda é temática de conflituosa discussão e envolve concepções muitas vezes divergentes e pouco refletidas. O artigo recorta aspectos concernentes às relações escola-famílias, buscando refletir acerca de situações cotidianas. Para tanto, buscamos, a partir das falas de uma mãe, entrevistada logo após o início do processo de adaptação de sua bebê à creche, pensar alguns aspectos e possíveis norteamentos para a organização do trabalho com as famílias no espaço da instituição de Educação Infantil. Por fim, propõem-se três eixos de ações que podem favorecer a constituição de espaços de Educação Infantil que contemplem a perspectiva da integralidade no cuidado e educação das crianças

Current limitations of global conservation to protect higher vulnerability and lower resilience fish species

Estuaries are threatened by intense and continuously increasing human activities. Here we estimated the sensitivity of fish assemblages in a set of estuaries distributed worldwide (based on species vulnerability and resilience), and the exposure to cumulative stressors and coverage by protected areas in and around those estuaries (from marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems, due to their connectivity). Vulnerability and resilience of estuarine fish assemblages were not evenly distributed globally and were driven by environmental features. Exposure to pressures and extent of protection were also not evenly distributed worldwide. Assemblages with more vulnerable and less resilient species were associated with estuaries in higher latitudes (in particular Europe), and with higher connectivity with the marine ecosystem, moreover such estuaries were generally under high intensity of pressures but with no concomitant increase in protection. Current conservation schemes pay little attention to species traits, despite their role in maintaining ecosystem functioning and stability. Results emphasize that conservation is weakly related with the global distribution of sensitive fish species in sampled estuaries, and this shortcoming is aggravated by their association with highly pressured locations, which appeals for changes in the global conservation strategy (namely towards estuaries in temperate regions and highly connected with marine ecosystems).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contributions of TOXICROP project for the assessment of the impacts of toxic cyanobacteria in agriculture †

Water contaminated with microcystins (MCs) or other cyanotoxins is recurrently used in agriculture and for crop irrigation. Several deleterious effects of MCs in plants that may impair crop productivity, including a decrease in growth and tissue necrosis, as well as an inhibition of photosynthesis and metabolic changes, have been reported. Studies also revealed a significant accumulation of MCs in edible tissues and plant organs, which raise concerns related to food safety. The European project TOXICROP precisely tackles this environmental problem. The main aims of the project are to map agricultural risk areas of cyanotoxin occurrence, to assess the fate of cyanotoxins in crops, and evaluate the impacts of using low-quality water for crop irrigation. The project also develops research on water remediation, exploring nature-based technologies. Here, we review part of the research carried out in the project, concerning the toxicity of cyanotoxins in crops. The research from TOXICROP Consortium has revealed for instance that adult strawberry or faba bean plants are susceptible to moderate concentrations of MCs (10 to 20 µg MCs/L). Furthermore, experiments with faba bean and common wheat grown in sterile (microorganism-free) and non-sterile (microorganism-rich) soil, watered with 100 μg MCs/L, revealed that native rhizospheric microbiota play an important role in the mitigation of the phytotoxic impact of MCs on plant growth, reducing toxin accumulation in both soils and plant tissues. Our studies also revealed that leaf vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, growing in hydroponics are more susceptible to MCs than to the toxin, cylindrospermopsin (CYN). The lowest toxin concentrations affecting spinach and lettuce growth were 5 + 5 and 25 + 25 µg/L CYN/MC mixtures, respectively. The results also reveal that the accumulation of MCs and CYN in plants depends on the conditions in which plants grow and concentrations of toxins in the irrigation water. In some cases, MCs are accumulated in plant tissues and exceed the tolerable daily intake proposed by the World Health Organization. We highlight the importance and contributions of this research to the definition and implementation of regulatory limits for cyanotoxins in irrigation waters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diabetes, autogestão e capacitação de pessoas idosas

Mestrado em GerontologiaIntrodução e objetivo: As doenças crónicas são consideradas uma epidemia, constituindo um sério problema de saúde pública a nível mundial, sendo-lhe atribuído 84,0% das mortes em 2008, (World Health Organization, (2011). Neste sentido, é preocupante a elevada incidência e prevalência da diabetes mellitus tipo 2 cujo aumento se traduz em proporções epidémicas, com repercussões ao nível da incapacidade e mortalidade prematura, dos gastos elevados com os tratamentos, para além das implicações e impacto pessoal, familiar e social da doença. Este estudo tem como objetivo geral avaliar a perceção que as pessoas idosas possuem sobre a gestão da diabetes Mellitus tipo 2, e o seu comportamento na adesão à terapêutica, bem como, a influência desta patologia na satisfação/insatisfação da sua vida quotidiana. Metodologia: O estudo desenvolvido é do tipo exploratório e descritivo em que se utilizou uma técnica de amostragem não aleatória de 129 diabéticos idosos. Como instrumento de colheita de dados foi aplicado um questionário durante as consultas de Diabetes realizadas em unidades de saúde do ACES Baixo Vouga. Todos os participantes assinaram o termo de consentimento informado e esclarecido. Estão integradas no questionário: (i) informações sociodemográficas;(ii) Inquérito de Perceção de Doença (IPQ-R) que nos permite avaliar a perceção de doença; (iii) Escala de Satisfação com a Vida (ESCV) para avaliação da satisfação com a vida; (iv) Empowerment Scale-Short Form (DES-SF) para avaliar as capacidades de empowerment. Resultados: As variáveis métricas classificadas (Índice de Massa Corporal, Glicémia em Jejum e Pressão Arterial), a prevalência de obesidade de excesso de peso nos homens é superior (53,2%) em relação às mulheres (44,8%). No que concerne à perceção de doença verifica-se que o sexo feminino se destaca em relação ao sexo masculino na exteriorização das suas queixas. Os sintomas mais apontados pelo sexo feminino foram a vontade de comer (11,6%), náuseas (10,1%), rigidez nas articulações (12,4%), muita sede (14%), tonturas (18,6%) e perda de forças (10,9%), no entanto, as pessoas do sexo masculino como do feminino, não relacionam com a diabetes os sintomas que manifestam. Verifica-se que as pessoas idosas, neste caso com 1º Ciclo do ensino básico (até 4 anos de escolaridade), 88,4% possuem capacidades de autogestão limitadas apresentando uma atitude ou um comportamento negativo face aos cuidados que devem ter com a sua diabetes. Conclusão: De realçar que a baixa escolaridade da população estudada compromete a sua literacia em saúde e inequivocamente o processo de empowerment, havendo assim, uma necessidade de definir estratégias que permitam aos profissionais de saúde dar o suporte adequado a este tipo de doentes.Introduction and objective: Chronic diseases are considered an epidemic, constituting a serious public health worldwide, and assigned 84.0% of deaths in 2008 (World Health Organization, (2011). In this sense, it is worrying the high incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus whose increase translates into epidemic proportions, affecting the level of disability and premature mortality, high expenses with treatments, beyond the implications and personal, familial and social impact of the disease. This study is aimed at evaluating the general perception that older people have about the management of diabetes mellitus type 2, and their behavior on compliance, as well as the influence of this condition on the satisfaction / dissatisfaction of their daily lives. Methods: The study conducted is exploratory and descriptive in that we used a technique of non-random sampling of 129 elderly diabetics. As an instrument of data collection, a questionnaire was applied during consultations held in the Diabetes health units of the Lower Vouga ACES. All participants signed informed consent and informed. Are integrated in the questionnaire: (i) demographic information, (ii) Survey of Perception of Illness (IPQ-R) that allows us to assess the perception of disease; (iii) Scale of Life Satisfaction (ESCV) for evaluation of life satisfaction; (iv) Empowerment Scale-Short Form (DES-SF) to assess the capabilities of empowerment. Results: Metric variables classified (Body Mass Index, Blood Sugar Fasting and Blood Pressure), obesity prevalence of overweight is higher in men (53.2%) compared to women (44.8%). Regarding the perception of disease it appears that the female stands in relation to the male in the externalization of their complaints. The symptoms most frequently reported by women were the desire to eat (11.6%), nausea (10.1%), stiffness (12.4%), thirsty (14%), dizziness (18.6% ) and loss of strength (10,9%), however, males and females, not related to the symptoms manifest diabetes. It appears that older people, in this case with the 1st cycle of basic education (up to 4 years of schooling), 88.4% have limited self-management capabilities of presenting a negative attitude or behavior towards care they should have with your diabetes . Conclusion: To emphasize that low educational level of the population compromises their health literacy and unambiguously the process of empowerment, thus there is a need to develop strategies to enable health professionals to provide proper support to such patients

Inventários: reconhecimento, mensuração e desreconhecimento

O trabalho apresenta as principais diferenças da introdução do Sistema de Normalização Contabilística (SNC) em relação ao anterior normativo – Plano Oficial de Contabilidade (POC) na área dos inventários. A pesquisa qualitativa permite analisar e desenvolver os dados recolhidos (primeira parte do trabalho). Fazendo uso de evidências empíricas é analisado, de forma quantificável, um exemplo prático (segunda parte do trabalho).The work presents the main differences of the introduction of Sistema de Normalização Contabilística (SNC) comparing to the previous normative - Plano Oficial de Contabilidade (POC) on the inventories area. The qualitative research allows to analyze and develop the data collected (first part of the work). Through the use of empirical evidences it is analyzed, on a quantifiable way, a practical example (second part of the work)

Sistemas de gestão ambiental no golfe em Portugal

Tese de mestrado. Ecologia e Gestão Ambiental. Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2011Um dos principais produtos da economia do turismo é a prática do golfe, justificando-se a relevância da optimização de técnicas de gestão do mesmo. Constata-se que o número de praticantes desta modalidade tem vindo a crescer, a taxas anuais de 5%, estimando-se que existam actualmente, em todo o mundo, mais de 60 milhões de jogadores e 32.000 campos de golfe, dos cerca de 88 campos de golfe em Portugal apenas 14 obtiveram certificados ambientais. O golfe necessita do meio ambiente para a sustentabilidade das suas actividades, tornando-se cada vez mais essencial a implementação de Sistemas de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) encarados como uma ferramenta de gestão que possibilita a uma organização, de qualquer dimensão ou tipo, controlar o impacte das suas actividades no ambiente. É pois essencial sensibilizar e apoiar os responsáveis pelos campos de golfe para as mais valias da implementação de SGA’s e das Certificações Ambientais que promovam a sustentabilidade ambiental dos campos. O principal objectivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia e desempenho ambiental dos SGA’s dos campos de golfe verificando assim a sua adequabilidade e avaliar as vantagens e desvantagens das certificações ambientais implementadas, averiguando as dificuldades encontradas. Para a sua realização foram efectuadas entrevistas e pedidos de informações a quatro campos de golfe e às entidades certificadoras, assim como a análise dos Estudos de Impacte ambiental (EIA) dos campos de golfe, no caso de existirem. Foi determinada a eficácia do SGA’s e desempenho ambiental dos campos, assim como a contribuição dos respectivos EIA’s para os SGA’s. Foram consideradas as dificuldades na implementação das diferentes certificações e o modo pelo qual se poderão solucionar os obstáculos encontrados, de forma a incentivar a implementação e certificação dos campos de golfe em Portugal.A major product of the tourism economy is playing golf, justifying the relevance of optimization techniques for management. The number of players of this sport has been growing at annual rates of 5%, it is estimated that currently there are more than 60 million players worldwide and 32,000 golf courses, from the 88 golf courses in Portugal only 14 obtained environmental certifications. Golf needs the environment for the sustainability of its activities, becoming increasingly essential to implement Environmental Management Systems (EMS) viewed as a management tool that enables an organization of any size or type to control the impact of its activities on the environment. It is therefore essential to raise awareness and support those responsible for golf courses to the capital gains from the implementation of EMS’s and environmental certifications that promote environmental sustainability of the courses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and environmental performances of EMS’s of golf courses as well as verifying the suitability and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of environmental certifications implemented by examining the difficulties encountered. For its execution, interviews and requests for information were conducted to four golf courses and certifiers, and the Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) of the golf courses were analysed. The effectiveness and environmental performance of the course’s EMS’s was determined, as well as the contribution of the respective EIS's to the EMS’s. The difficulties in implementing the various certifications were considered as well as the means to solve the obstacles encountered in order to encourage the implementation and certification of golf courses in Portugal