A study with the semantic learning machine

Lapa, P., Rundo, L., Gonçalves, I., & Castelli, M. (2019). Enhancing classification performance of convolutional neural networks for prostate cancer detection on magnetic resonance images: A study with the semantic learning machine. In GECCO 2019 : Proceedings of the 2019 Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference Companion (pp. 381-382). (GECCO 2019 Companion - Proceedings of the 2019 Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference Companion). Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1145/3319619.3322035 --- This work was partially supported by projects UID/MULTI/00308/2019 and by the European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE 2020 Programme, FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and Regional Operational Program of the Center Region (CENTRO2020) within project MAnAGER (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028040). This work was also partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) under project DSAIPA/DS/0022/2018 (GADgET).Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common oncological disease in Western men. Even though a significant effort has been carried out by the scientific community, accurate and reliable automated PCa detection methods are still a compelling issue. In this clinical scenario, high-resolution multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is becoming the most used modality, also enabling quantitative studies. Recently, deep learning techniques have achieved outstanding results in prostate MRI analysis tasks, in particular with regard to image classification. This paper studies the feasibility of using the Semantic Learning Machine (SLM) neuroevolution algorithm to replace the fully-connected architecture commonly used in the last layers of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The experimental phase considered the PROSTATEx dataset composed of multispectral MRI sequences. The achieved results show that, on the same non-contrast-enhanced MRI series, SLM outperforms with statistical significance a state-of-the-art CNN trained with backpropagation. The SLM performance is achieved without pre-training the underlying CNN with backpropagation. Furthermore, on average the SLM training time is approximately 14 times faster than the backpropagation-based approach.authorsversionpublishe

Conditional random fields improve the CNN-based prostate cancer classification performance

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Advanced AnaliyticsProstate cancer is a condition with life-threatening implications but without clear causes yet identified. Several diagnostic procedures can be used, ranging from human dependent and very invasive to using state of the art non-invasive medical imaging. With recent academic and industry focus on the deep learning field, novel research has been performed on to how to improve prostate cancer diagnosis using Convolutional Neural Networks to interpret Magnetic Resonance images. Conditional Random Fields have achieved outstanding results in the image segmentation task, by promoting homogeneous classification at the pixel level. A new implementation, CRF-RNN defines Conditional Random Fields by means of convolutional layers, allowing the end to end training of the feature extractor and classifier models. This work tries to repurpose CRFs for the image classification task, a more traditional sub-field of imaging analysis, on a way that to the best of the author’s knowledge, has not been implemented before. To achieve this, a purpose-built architecture was refitted, adding a CRF layer as a feature extractor step. To serve as the implementation’s benchmark, a multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging dataset was used, initially provided for the PROSTATEx Challenge 2017 and collected by the Radboud University. The results are very promising, showing an increase in the network’s classification quality.Cancro da próstata é uma condição que pode apresentar risco de vida, mas sem causas ainda corretamente identificadas. Vários métodos de diagnóstico podem ser utilizados, desde bastante invasivos e dependentes do operador humano a métodos não invasivos de ponta através de imagens médicas. Com o crescente interesse das universidades e da indústria no campo do deep learning, investigação tem sido desenvolvida com o propósito de melhorar o diagnóstico de cancro da próstata através de Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) (Redes Neuronais Convolucionais) para interpretar imagens de Ressonância Magnética. Conditional Random Fields (CRF) (Campos Aleatórios Condicionais) alcançaram resultados muito promissores no campo da Segmentação de Imagem, por promoverem classificações homogéneas ao nível do pixel. Uma nova implementação, CRF-RNN redefine os CRF através de camadas de CNN, permitindo assim o treino integrado da rede que extrai as características e o modelo que faz a classificação. Este trabalho tenta aproveitar os CRF para a tarefa de Classificação de Imagem, um campo mais tradicional, numa abordagem que nunca foi implementada anteriormente, para o conhecimento do autor. Para conseguir isto, uma nova arquitetura foi definida, utilizando uma camada CRF-RNN como um extrator de características. Como meio de comparação foi utilizada uma base de dados de imagens multiparamétricas de Ressonância Magnética, recolhida pela Universidade de Radboud e inicialmente utilizada para o PROSTATEx Challenge 2017. Os resultados são bastante promissores, mostrando uma melhoria na capacidade de classificação da rede neuronal

RELAÇÃO ENTRE QUALIDADE DA AUDITORIA E CONSERVADORISMO CONTÁBIL NAS EMPRESAS BRASILEIRAS

Over time, researchers have been using a set of many different attributes attempting to explain the relationship between the quality of accounting information and other variables, especially in the securities market. In this context, conservatism is indicated as one of the main quality characteristics of accounting information, which can result from factors present in the accounting environment, such as the legal system and accounting standards, among others. The auditing of financial statements influences the quality of accounting information. Previous research of the relationship between audit and accounting information quality has usually used a single feature of the audit, for example, the size of the audit firm. This study aimed to investigate the influence of several audit quality characteristics on the quality of accounting information, measured by conservatism. We evaluated the accounting information produced by Brazilian companies in the period 2000-2011, using the model developed by Ball and Shivakumar (2005). Among the results, we found that the conservatism of accounting information is positively affected by the size of the audit firm and negatively affected by the time of engagement of the auditors, the distance between the date of the opinion and publication date of the financial statements. We also observed that variables such as the existence of an audit committee, the provision of non-audit services, the importance of the client to the auditor and audit specialization does not affect accounting conservatism.Investigadores han hecho uso, a lo largo del tempo, de un conjunto de muchos y distintos atributos en el momento de intentar explicar la relación entre la calidad de la información contable y otras variables, especialmente en el ámbito del mercado de valores mobiliarios. En ese contexto, el conservadorismo es considerado como una de las principales características de calidad de la información contable, la cual puede resultar de factores presentes en el ambiente contable, como, por ejemplo, sistema jurídico, conjunto de normas contables, entre otros. La auditoría de demostraciones contables, teniéndose en cuenta la justificativa que sostiene la necesidad del trabajo, acaba por influenciar la calidad de la información contable. Investigaciones anteriores, cuando investigaron la relación entre auditoría independiente y calidad de la información contable, usaron, normalmente, tan sólo una característica de la auditoría, como, por ejemplo, el tamaño de la empresa de auditoría. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo verificar la influencia de diversas características de la calidad de la auditoría sobre la calidad de la información contable, ésta mensurada por el conservadorismo. Fueron evaluadas informaciones contables producidas por las compañías abiertas brasileñas en el periodo de 2000 a 2011, utilizando el modelo desarrollado por Ball y Shivakumar (2005). Entre los resultados encontrados, se constató que el conservadorismo de la información contable es positivamente afectado por el tamaño de la empresa de auditoría y negativamente afectado por el tiempo de suministración de servicio de los auditores, por la distancia entre la fecha del dictamen y la fecha de publicación de las demostraciones contables. Asimismo, se observó que variables como el comité de auditoría, la suministración de servicios de no auditoría, la importancia del cliente para la empresa de auditoría y la especialización de la auditoría no afectan el conservadorismo contable.Pesquisadores têm feito uso, ao longo do tempo, de um conjunto de muitos e distintos atributos, quando da tentativa de explicar a relação entre a qualidade da informação contábil e outras variáveis, especialmente no âmbito do mercado de valores mobiliários. Nesse contexto, o conservadorismo é apontado como uma das principais características de qualidade da informação contábil, a qual pode resultar de fatores presentes no ambiente contábil como, por exemplo, sistema jurídico, conjunto de normas contábeis, entre outros. A auditoria de demonstrações contábeis, tendo em vista a justificativa que sustenta a necessidade do trabalho, finda por influenciar a qualidade da informação contábil. Pesquisas anteriores, quando investigaram a relação entre auditoria independente e qualidade da informação contábil, usaram, normalmente, uma única característica da auditoria, como, por exemplo, o tamanho da firma de auditoria. Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a influência de diversas características da qualidade da auditoria sobre a qualidade da informação contábil, esta mensurada pelo conservadorismo. Foram avaliadas informações contábeis produzidas pelas companhias abertas brasileiras no período de 2000 a 2011, utilizando o modelo desenvolvido por Ball e Shivakumar (2005). Entre os resultados encontrados, constatou-se que o conservadorismo da informação contábil é positivamente afetado pelo tamanho da firma de auditoria e negativamente afetado pelo tempo de prestação de serviço dos auditores, pela distância entre a data do parecer e a data de publicação das demonstrações contábeis. Observou-se, também, que variáveis como o comitê de auditoria, a prestação de serviços de não auditoria, a importância do cliente para a firma de auditoria e a especialização da auditoria não afetam o conservadorismo contábil

Conservadorismo da informação contábil : análise da relação com as características qualitativas da auditoria independente

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa Multi-Institucional e Inter-Regional de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Contábeis, João Pessoa, 2012.A pesquisa na área contábil, no Brasil e no exterior, tem abordado questões relacionadas com as características de qualidade tanto da informação contábil quanto da auditoria, isso de forma recorrente e isolada. Do ponto de vista contábil, qualidade tem sido especificada por distintas características, entre elas o conservadorismo, objeto de preocupação, explícita ou implícita, na regulamentação contábil. No que diz respeito à auditoria, as características de qualidade têm como principais atributos a competência e a independência dos auditores, isso sem deixar de considerar diversos outros atributos, como: tamanho da firma de auditoria; tipo e importância de cliente; tempo de relacionamento com o cliente; atraso na emissão do relatório do auditor; prestação de outros serviços, que não serviços de auditoria; especialização do auditor no tipo de empresa auditada, entre outros. Nada obstante, não tem sido comum a realização de pesquisas que abordem a relação entre as características de qualidade da informação contábil e as características de qualidade na auditoria. A partir de tal constatação, foi formulada a questão desta pesquisa: as características da qualidade da auditoria independente afetam o nível de conservadorismo dos relatórios contábeis? Para resolver tal questão, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa tipo descritiva, bibliográfica, documental e quantitativa. Para captar o nível de conservadorismo contábil, foi empregado o modelo desenvolvido por Ball e Shivakumar (2005), enquanto que, para mensurar as características de qualidade da auditoria, foram empregadas proxies validadas na literatura que trata do tema. As regressões foram estimadas através da abordagem pooling of independente cross sections. Os resultados encontrados indicam que o conservadorismo contábil é afetado pelo tamanho da firma de auditoria, enquanto que o tempo de prestação de serviços de auditoria e o atraso na emissão do relatório do auditor possuem uma relação inversa com a qualidade da informação contábil. Não foi encontrada significância estatística para outras relações que foram testadas entre as características de qualidade da auditoria listadas e o conservadorismo contábil. O fato de avaliar a relação das características de qualidade da auditoria exclusivamente com o conservadorismo contábil é uma limitação da pesquisa. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTAccounting research in Brazil and other countries has been focused on issues related to the quality characteristics of both accounting information and auditing, in a recurrent and isolated way. From the accounting point of view quality has been specified by distinct characteristics, among them the conservativeness, matter of worry, explicit or implicit, in the accounting rules. In what concerns to auditing, the quality characteristics has a main attributes competence and independence of the chartered accountants (C.P. As), without left apart other factors as: size of the auditing firm, type and importance of the customer, relationship time with the client, delay in the issuing of the auditing report, provision of other services not related to auditing, specialization of the auditor in the kind of company audited, among others. Nevertheless, it has not been common to carry out research that addresses the relationship between the quality characteristics of accounting information and quality auditing. As a result of this observation was formulated the main question of this research: Quality characteristics of independent auditing affect the conservativeness of accounting reports? To answer this question we developed a descriptive, bibliographic, documental and quantitative research. To capture the accounting conservativeness level was employed a model developed by Ball and Shivakumar (2005), while for measuring the quality characteristics of auditing were used proxies largely adopted in the literature. The regressions were estimated using the pooling approach of independent cross sections. The obtained results show that conservativeness of accounting is affected by the size of the auditing firm, while the time of provision of auditing services and the delay in issuing the auditor report have an inverse relationship with the quality of accounting information. Any other statistical significance was found for other relationship tested between characteristics of accounting quality and conservativeness of accounting information. The fact of considering only the relationship between the characteristics of quality auditing and accounting conservativeness is a weakness of this research

Qualidade das informações contábeis na oferta pública de ações e debentures pelas companhias abertas brasileiras

Although bonds account for the largest trading volume of transactions in the Brazilian financial market, most studies of the quality of accounting information focus on the stock market. Considering that many studies suggest that the institutional and organizational environment affects firms’ accounting numbers, the following research question can be raised: Is the quality of accounting information affected significantly by public offering of stocks and bonds? To answer this question, we conducted an empirical study of a sample composed of listed Brazilian companies that made public debt and equity offerings between 2000 and 2006. The results indicate that such offerings did not significantly affect the accounting numbers, suggesting that the quality of accounting information is not affected by public stock and bond offerings.Apesar de as debêntures apresentarem maior volume de negociações no ambiente brasileiro, grande parte das pesquisas nacionais sobre a qualidade das informações contábeis tem focado no mercado de ações. Considerando-se que diversos estudos sugerem que o ambiente institucional e organizacional das firmas afeta o comportamento dos números contábeis, pode-se levantar o seguinte problema de pesquisa: A qualidade das informações contábeis é afetada significativamente pela oferta pública de ações e debêntures? O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a qualidade das informações contábeis na oferta pública de ações e debêntures por companhias abertas brasileiras, com o intuito de verificar se existem diferenças significativas nos números contábeis. Para atingir o propósito deste trabalho, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa empírica, com uma amostra formada por empresas que efetuaram ofertas públicas entre 2000 e 2006. Os resultados evidenciam que a oferta pública não afeta, significativamente, os números contábeis, sugerindo, assim, que a qualidade das informações contábeis não é influenciada pela emissão de ações e debêntures

Sensory, microbiological, physical and chemical properties of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and broadtail shortfin squid (Illex coindetii) stored in ice

The objective of this study was to characterize whole raw cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and shortfin squid (Illex coindetii) during storage in ice through sensory, microbiological, chemical and physical analyses. The recently developed Quality Index Method (QIM) tables for these species were used for sensory analysis. Shelf-life of whole cuttlefish and shortfin squid were estimated as around 10 and 9 days, respectively, according to QIM, which is shorter than for most species, especially fish. The numbers of microorganisms found in cuttlefish and shortfin squid surfaces until rejection were lower than in fish, which suggest predominance of enzymatic (autolytic) degradation. H2S-producing bacteria constituted a significant proportion of the spoilage flora. Physical analysis performed using the RT-Freshmeter and the Torrymeter showed these instruments can be applied to cuttlefish and shortfin squid, providing useful complementary information on the rates of change of electrical properties. Free tryptophan and VBN contents significantly changed during the first storage week indicating that low levels of these compounds could be used as indicators of fresh and high quality cuttlefish and broadtail shortfin squid. Urea can be useful as spoilage indicator for cuttlefish, as well as agmatine for broadtail shortfin squid. An overall look into data obtained shows, as expected, that spoilage of these cephalopod species can be considered a different phenomena when compared to fish and is not yet completely clarified

Biorefinery to produce activated carbon from biomass - an approach for a biogas refining process

Waste management has become a critical issue in terms of global warming and contamination of natural resources. Specifically, the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes (OFMSW) is produced worldwide in high amounts, while maize, the most produced cereal in the world, generates wastes that often exceed the organic-C needed for soil fertility. Anaerobic Digestion (AD) offers the opportunity to generate biogas from those feedstoks, which is a renewable energy source suitable (i) for electricity and heat production, (ii) grid injection, or (iii) to be used as a fuel in transportation sector. The last two options are possible after biogas conditioning and upgrading to biomethane (CH4 \u3e 97% v/v). This work applies a biorefinery concept (Figure 1) to valorize the mentioned wastes by submitting them to a co-AD, producing activated carbon (from the solid fraction of the digestate) capable of being used to develop a refining process to upgrade biogas (AD gas fraction) to biomethane. Firstly, the co-AD efficiency (after proper optimization of the process conditions) is assessed by the (i) efficiency of the pre-treatment the maize cob waste (co-substrate); (ii) efficiency of the conversion of the organic substrate fed to the anaerobic digester (hydrolysed OFMSW from a Portuguese company of waste treatment and valorization, plus maize cob from Coruche Portuguese county) into biogas; (iii) biogas volume produced; and (iv) biogas quality. A bench-scale anaerobic digester with a biogas storage system is used for this purpose. H2S mitigation in the biogas produced is studied by using a pre-conditioning guard bed placed before the biogas upgrading process. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Entre a essencialidade e a instrumentalidade do patrimônio: valores institucionais e participação social na gestão da conservação urbana

This article is part of the contemporary debate about Urban Conservation Management, based on heritage values. In view of the dichotomy between essential and instrumental values, Conservation has encountered obstacles associated with the missions of the institutions that manage heritage sites and participatory processes. How effective are the shared management mechanism? To analyze this issue, the case study of the Metropolitan Park Armando de Holanda Cavalcanti was taken, located in the Northeast Region of Brazil, whose conservation has raised a conflict between residents and managers thus, contributing for insignificant results. It will be analyzed the Park registration process and the action plans prepared in 2010 and 2018, with the purpose of identifying how the participation of entities related to heritage has contributed to the decision-making. For the success of conservation processes, speeches must be aligned with local realities, and ensure the effective participation of all actors involved.Este artigo insere-se no debate contemporâneo acerca da Gestão da Conservação Urbana baseada nos valores patrimoniais. Em vista da dicotomia entre valores essenciais e valores instrumentais, a Conservação tem encontrado entraves associados às missões das instituições que gerem os sítios patrimoniais e aos processos participativos. Quão efetivos se mostram os mecanismos de gestão compartilhada? Para análise dessa problemática, adota-se o Parque Metropolitano Armando de Holanda Cavalcanti, situado na região Nordeste do Brasil, cuja conservação esbarra no conflito entre residentes e gestores, alcançando resultados insignificantes. Analisam-se o processo de tombamento do Parque e os planos de ações elaborados em 2010 e 2018, com o objetivo de identificar como a participação dos entes relacionados ao bem patrimonial tem contribuído para a tomada de decisão. Para lograr êxito nos processos de conservação, há que se alinhar os discursos com as realidades locais e garantir a efetiva participação dos atores envolvidos

Quantitative changes of nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus of dystrophin-deficient mice

Lack of dystrophin in Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD) and in the mutant mdx mouse results in progressive muscle degeneration, structural changes at the neuromuscular junction, and destabilization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). One-third of DMD patients also present non-progressive cognitive impairments. Considering the role of the cholinergic system in cognitive functions, the number of nAChR binding sites and the mRNA levels of alpha 4, beta 2, and alpha 7 subunits were determined in brain regions normally enriched in dystrophin (cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum) of mdx mice using specific ligands and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. Membrane preparations of these brain regions were obtained from male control and mdx mice at 4 and 12 months of age. the number of [H-3]-cytisine (alpha 4 beta 2) and [I-125]-alpha-bungarotoxin ([I-125]-alpha BGT, alpha 7) binding sites in the cortex and cerebellum was not altered with age or among age-matched control and mdx mice. A significant reduction in [H-3]-cytisine (48%) and [I-125]-alpha BGT (37%) binding sites was detected in the hippocampus of mdx mice at 12 months of age. When compared with the age-matched control groups, the mdx mice did not have significantly altered [H-3]-cytisine binding in the hippocampus, but [I-125]-alpha BGT binding in the same brain region was 52% higher at 4 months and 20% lower at 12 months. mRNA transcripts for the nAChR alpha 4, beta 2, and alpha 7 subunits were not significantly altered in the same brain regions of all animal groups. These results suggest a potential alteration of the nicotinic cholinergic function in the hippocampus of dystrophin-deficient mice, which might contribute to the impairments in cognitive functions, such as learning and memory, that have been reported in the dystrophic murine model and DMD patients. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Sect Nat Prod, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Sect Expt Endocrinol, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Santa Catarina, Dept Pharmacol, Neuropharmacol Lab, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilAmazon Biotechnol Ctr, Lab Pharmacol & Toxicol, Manaus, AM, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Sect Nat Prod, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Sect Expt Endocrinol, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Corrigendum: Efficacy of an ACT and compassion-based ehealth program for self-management of chronic pain (iACTwithPain): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (Front. Psychol., (2021), 12, (630766), 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.630766)

In the published article, there was an error in the Funding statement. Details regarding the funding bodies were erroneously excluded. The correct Funding statement appears below