Exon creation and establishment in human genes

A comparative genomics study of alternatively spliced exons showing that the relative local abundance of splicing regulatory motifs influences splicing decisions in humans

Human-Aligned Calibration for AI-Assisted Decision Making

Whenever a binary classifier is used to provide decision support, it typically provides both a label prediction and a confidence value. Then, the decision maker is supposed to use the confidence value to calibrate how much to trust the prediction. In this context, it has been often argued that the confidence value should correspond to a well calibrated estimate of the probability that the predicted label matches the ground truth label. However, multiple lines of empirical evidence suggest that decision makers have difficulties at developing a good sense on when to trust a prediction using these confidence values. In this paper, our goal is first to understand why and then investigate how to construct more useful confidence values. We first argue that, for a broad class of utility functions, there exist data distributions for which a rational decision maker is, in general, unlikely to discover the optimal decision policy using the above confidence values -- an optimal decision maker would need to sometimes place more (less) trust on predictions with lower (higher) confidence values. However, we then show that, if the confidence values satisfy a natural alignment property with respect to the decision maker's confidence on her own predictions, there always exists an optimal decision policy under which the level of trust the decision maker would need to place on predictions is monotone on the confidence values, facilitating its discoverability. Further, we show that multicalibration with respect to the decision maker's confidence on her own predictions is a sufficient condition for alignment. Experiments on four different AI-assisted decision making tasks where a classifier provides decision support to real human experts validate our theoretical results and suggest that alignment may lead to better decisions

RAISE UP: Desenvolvimento de framework em plataforma Cloud para permitir a automatização de classificação

Uma das grandes dificuldades das empresas encontra-se em classificar os seus clientes, ou potenciais clientes (leads), de forma rápida e flexível, tendo como base, dados das suas experiências de negócio passadas ou novas informações recolhidas, de modo a oferecer propostas personalizadas. A solução para este problema implicará a criação de uma nova aplicação dentro da plataforma Salesforce (plataforma de CRM que permite a gestão do contacto com os clientes). Essa aplicação efetuará uma análise aprimorada dos dados contidos no sistema e, posteriormente, classificará os clientes em diferentes categorias. Estas categorias serão determinadas a partir da adição de um conjunto de regras para cada critério, apoiadas em metadados, com o intuito de selecionar os clientes que se enquadram nestes. Com a criação desta solução, as empresas ficarão mais informadas e preparadas para garantir melhores negócios, quer nos seus clientes atuais, quer na pesquisa de novos clientes, de modo a maximizar o retorno da sua atividade.One of the major difficulties of companies is classifying their customers, or potentials customers (leads), in a faster and flexible way, considering data for their previous business experiences or new informations, in a way that can offer personalized propositions. The solution to this problem will imply the creation of the new app inside Salesforce platform (CRM platform that allows the management of customers contact). This app will do a sofisticated analysis of the data contained in the system and, posteriorly, it will classify the customers in the different categories. This categories will be determined by the adition of a set of rules for each criteria, supported by metadata, with the purpose of selecting the customers that will fit in these. With this solution, the companies will be more informed and prepared to ensure the best deals, either in your current customers, or in the search for new customers, in order to maximize the return of your activity

O coro como veículo de socialização e educação musical: o caso do Coro Comunitário de Amarante

Mestrado em MúsicaEsta dissertação reflete o trabalho de criação de um coro comunitário no Concelho de Amarante, tendo como elementos integrantes os coralistas de quatro grupos corais litúrgicos de paróquias de Amarante, e faz uma análise do impacto sociocultural e educativo do mesmo. Mostra-nos também a visão de vários autores sobre os benefícios sociais e educativos da prática coral. Os inquéritos, realizados aos membros do coro, revelam uma consciência sobre a relevância do coro no que respeita aos aspetos da socialização e aos aspetos educativos. É feita também uma breve abordagem a aspetos relacionados com o trabalho de preparação vocal do coro tais como respiração, relaxamento, aquecimento vocal.This paper reflects the work of creating a community choir in the municipality of Amarante, with the integral elements of choristers from four liturgical choirs of four Amarante’s parishes, and makes an analysis of the socio-cultural and educational impact of this project. It shows also the view of several authors on the social and educational benefits of the choral practice. Surveys to members of the choir, show an awareness of the relevance of the choir with regard to aspects of socialization and educational aspects. This paper also includes a brief approach to aspects related to the work of vocal preparation of the choir such as breathing, relaxation, vocal warm-ups

Crise dos refugiados : a proposta da União Europeia e o papel de Portugal

Dissertação de Mestrado, Relações Internacionais : O Espaço Euro-Atlântico, 16 julho de 2019, Universidade dos Açores.O objetivo deste trabalho, numa primeira parte, é demonstrar como foi a evolução do conceito de refugiado, assim como quais são os requisitos necessários para obter o estatuto de refugiado, algo que foi sendo alterado ao longo do século XX. Por outro lado, pretende-se explicitar os instrumentos legais criados para o efeito, de modo a responder aos desafios que iam sendo colocados e, por fim, explicar quais as razões que levaram à comummente chamada crise atual dos refugiados, sobretudo a Primavera Árabe e o crescimento do Estado Islâmico (ISIS). Numa segunda parte, pretende-se explanar como tem sido a ação da União Europeia e dos seus Estados-membros na resolução deste problema, também quais os mecanismos que têm sido utilizados. Na última parte da dissertação, analisa-se o caso particular de Portugal e a intervenção do nosso país na resolução desta crise humanitária.ABSTRACT: The main purpose in the first part of the research is to demonstrate how the evolution of the refugee status progressed and the requirements needed to obtain it, as it has changed throughout the 20th century. On the other hand, is intended to enlighten the legal instruments created for this purpose, in order to answer the challenges that were being posed. Finally, this paper has the aim to explain the reasons that led to the currently alleged refugee crisis, in particular the Arab Spring and the growth of the Islamic State. In the second part, the main purpose is to explain how the European Union and its Member States have been operating to solve this problem. The mechanisms they have been using in order to complete this objective will also be explained. The last part of the dissertation is going to focus mainly on the analysis of Portugal’s case and its intervention in the resolution of this humanitarian crisis

Prevalência do vírus da diarreia viral bovina (BVDV) em vacas leiteiras nas ilhas das Flores e do Corvo (Açores)

Orientação: João Ribeiro LimaAs ilhas das Flores e do Corvo pertencem ao grupo ocidental do arquipélago dos Açores. Existem cerca de 7700 bovinos distribuídos por 372 explorações, das quais, 30 são explorações leiteiras. Neste levantamento, todos os bovinos das explorações leiteiras foram testados para a presença de anticorpos contra a Doença Viral Bovina (BVD) e para a presença de vírus da Doença Viral Bovina (BVDV). O rastreio foi realizado com amostras individuais de soro utilizando o ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimática, teste de anticorpos ELISA (kit comercial ‘IDEXX BVDV total AbTest’) e misturas de amostras de soro utilizando a técnica da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em tempo real (RT-PCR) (kit comercial ‘MagVetTM Universal’ e ‘LSI VetMAX™ BVDV Screening Real-Time PCR Kit, synthetic EPC’). Para os animais com idade igual ou inferior a 6 meses, foi feita a colheita de sangue para tubos com anticoagulante (EDTA) para pesquisa de antigénio anti-BVDV. A seroprevalência e prevalência de BVDV foi determinada em 30 explorações leiteiras, testando 277 bovinos de Ilha das Flores e 17 de Ilha do Corvo, de setembro de 2015 a janeiro de 2016. Todos os rebanhos leiteiros estavam sob as campanhas oficiais de saneamento, muito deles apresentando problemas de fertilidade. Não foram identificados animais PI. A prevalência de BVDV ao nível das explorações foi de 100% na ilha do Corvo e 83,3% na ilha das Flores. A seroprevalência de BVDV nos animais foi 36,8% e 83,3% na ilha das Flores e do Corvo, respetivamente Este estudo é mais um passo para controlar e erradicar a BVDV nos bovinos leiteiros nestas duas ilhas. Dada a alta taxa de animais afetados por BVDV, é essencial tomar medidas nas explorações, fazer um levantamento epidemiológico para descobrir a causa desta seroprevalência, abatendo os animais PI (quando presentes) e implementando medidas para impedir a disseminação do vírus na população de bovinos.Flores and Corvo islands belong to western group of the Azores archipelago. There are about 7700 bovines distributed by 372 herds from which 30 are dairy herds. In this survey, all cattle from dairy herds were tested for the presence of antibodies against Viral Bovine Disease BVD and for the presence of the Viral Bovine Disease virus (BVDV). The screening was performed with individual serum samples using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ELISA antibody test (commercial kit ‘IDEXX BVDV total AbTest’) and pools of serum samples using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) (commercial kit ‘MagVetTM Universal’ and ‘LSI VetMAX™ BVDV Screening Real-Time PCR Kit, synthetic EPC’). For animals aged less than 6 months, blood collection was performed with tubes with anticoagulant (EDTA) to investigate the presence of anti-BVDV antigene. Seroprevalence and prevalence of BVDV was determined in 30 dairy herds, testing 277 cattle from Flores Island and 17 from Corvo Island, from Setember 2015 to January 2016. All the dairy herds were under oficial disease control programs and most of them presented fertility problems. Persistently infected animals were not identified. The seroprevalence of BVDV between herds was 100% in Corvo Island and 83,3% in Flores Island. The seroprevalence of BVDV between animals was 36,8% and 83.3% in Flores and Corvo Islands, respectively. This study is another step to control and eradicate the BVDV in cattle in these two islands. Given the high rate of affected animals by BVDV, it is essential to take measures in herds, do an epidemiological survey to find the cause of this high seroprevalence, removing the PI animals (when present) and implementing measures to prevent the dissemination of the virus in cattle population

Quality of life and the risk of contracting malaria by multivariate analysis in the Brazilian Amazon region

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malaria in the Amazon basin is closely related to social inequalities, given that precarious economic and socio-environmental conditions represent favourable factors for the transmission of the disease in tropical regions, such as the Brazilian state of Pará. In the present study, an association was found between the variation in a quality of life index (QLI), based on the socioeconomic differences between the municipalities of this state, and the risk of contracting malaria, based on the Annual Parasitic Index (API), with the primary objective of providing guidelines for the development of effective strategies for the control of the disease. METHODS: The API scores for the years between 2003 and 2011 were collected from the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s DATASUS database, and socioeconomic data for the 143 municipalities of Pará were obtained from the 2010 census. The data were analysed using multivariate factorial and correspondence techniques. RESULTS: The QLI was calculated for each municipality, of which, 69.23% were classified as having a poor or regular quality of life. The municipalities with poor QLI scores also presented moderate to high rates of malaria, with probabilities of 80.97% and 95.13%, respectively, while those with good QLI scores had low rates of malaria, with a probability of 79.24%. The results indicated a concentration of malaria in the south-west of the state of Pará, with an increase of 8.82% in the incidence of the disease over the study period, and the northeastern and Marajó mesoregions, where there was an increase of over 90%. In south-eastern Pará, by contrast, there was a marked reduction (78%) in the incidence of the disease, reflecting the heterogeneous distribution of malaria among the different municipalities and mesoregions of the state, especially those with moderate to high risk of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that malaria is endemic to Pará and is typical of the state’s poorest areas, and that the distribution of the disease within the state indicates an intimate relationship with the living conditions of the population, affecting primarily the economically less privileged sectors of the society

Speciation over the edge: Gene flow among non-human primate species across a formidable biogeographic barrier

Many genera of terrestrial vertebrates diversified exclusively on one or the other side of Wallace’s Line, which lies between Borneo and Sulawesi islands in Southeast Asia, and demarcates one of the sharpest biogeographic transition zones in the world. Macaque monkeys are unusual among vertebrate genera in that they are distributed on both sides of Wallace‘s Line, raising the question of whether dispersal across this barrier was an evolutionary one-off or a more protracted exchange—and if the latter, what were the genomic consequences. To explore the nature of speciation over the edge of this biogeographic divide, we used genomic data to test for evidence of gene flow between macaque species across Wallace’s Line after macaques colonized Sulawesi. We recovered evidence of post-colonization gene flow, most prominently on the X chromosome. These results are consistent with the proposal that gene flow is a pervasive component of speciation—even when barriers to gene flow seem almost insurmountable