Assessing the persistent impacts of fragmentation on aboveground structure of tropical forests is essential to understanding the consequences of land use change for carbon storage and other ecosystem ...functions. We investigated the influence of edge distance and fragment size on canopy structure, aboveground woody biomass (AGB), and AGB turnover in the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP) in central Amazon, Brazil, after 22+ yr of fragment isolation, by combining canopy variables collected with portable canopy profiling lidar and airborne laser scanning surveys with long-term forest inventories. Forest height decreased by 30% at edges of large fragments (>10 ha) and interiors of small fragments (<3 ha). In larger fragments, canopy height was reduced up to 40 m from edges. Leaf area density profiles differed near edges: the density of understory vegetation was higher and midstory vegetation lower, consistent with canopy reorganization via increased regeneration of pioneers following post-fragmentation mortality of large trees. However, canopy openness and leaf area index remained similar to control plots throughout fragments, while canopy spatial heterogeneity was generally lower at edges. AGB stocks and fluxes were positively related to canopy height and negatively related to spatial heterogeneity. Other forest structure variables typically used to assess the ecological impacts of fragmentation (basal area, density of individuals, and density of pioneer trees) were also related to lidar-derived canopy surface variables. Canopy reorganization through the replacement of edge-sensitive species by disturbance-tolerant ones may have mitigated the biomass loss effects due to fragmentation observed in the earlier years of BDFFP. Lidar technology offered novel insights and observational scales for analysis of theecological impacts of fragmentation on forest structure and function, specifically aboveground biomass storage.
Java vulnerabilities correspond to 91% of all exploits observed on the worldwide web. The present work aims to create antivirus software with machine learning and artificial intelligence and master ...in Java malware detection. Within the proposed methodology, the suspected JAR sample is executed to intentionally infect the Windows OS monitored in a controlled environment. In all, our antivirus monitors and considers, statistically, 6824 actions that the suspected JAR file can perform when executed. Our antivirus achieved an average performance of 91.58% in the distinction between benign and malware JAR files. Different initial conditions, learning functions and architectures of our antivirus are investigated. The limitations of commercial antiviruses can be supplied by intelligent antiviruses. Instead of blacklist-based models, our antivirus allows JAR malware detection preventively and not reactively as Oracle's Java and traditional antivirus modus operandi.
The dissemination of information to participate in mobilizations through social networks allows people in different locations to participate, reducing the effort and resources required to join a ...movement. This study aimed to identify the factors that led people to use social networks to participate in the social movement Je Suis Charlie, in solidarity to the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. A survey of 318 respondents was conducted, and the methodology used was quantitative with the use of structural equation modeling. The study presented a robust model with high explanatory value. The results indicate that Attitude, Perceived Behavior Control, Hedonic Motivation and Imitation influence the Use of social networks to participate in protests, and Uncertainty regarding the context of the movement influences Imitation. It is possible to affirm also that there are differences between the relationships of the antecedents of the behavior of the Use between users of different genders and ages.
The objective of this study was to describe the profile of bicycle users, their perceived difficulty to cycle, and the most frequent trip origins and destinations in Aracaju, Northeast Brazil. Our ...cross-sectional study sampled 1001 participants and we collected information through structured interviews. Aged ≥15 years, participants were residents of all Aracaju's neighborhoods and used a bicycle for commuting to work or for leisure. We observed that bicycle users in Aracaju are predominantly employed male subjects, aged between 18 and 40 years, and were the heads of their households. Most of the them reported "work" as the main reason for their bicycle trips and, "health" and "practicality" aspects as their main motivations for using bicycles. In general, the neighborhoods in the north and center of the city were identified as the most difficult for cycling, and the easiest trips occurred in places with cycle paths. As a conclusion of this study, we reaffirm the need for intersectoral actions that create favorable environments for active commuting and more sustainable cities.
Abstract
Background
The presence of multimorbidity increases the risk of mortality, and identifying correlates of multimorbidity can direct interventions by targeting specific modifiable correlates. ...Here we aimed to investigate the association between two types of screen-based behaviors and multimorbidity.
Methods
We used data from 87,678 Brazilian adults from the National Health Survey (2019). Multimorbidity (presence of two or more chronic conditions among 12 possibilities), TV-viewing, and time on other types of screens (computer, tablet, or cell phone), were self-reported. Crude and adjusted binary and multinominal logistic regression models were performed stratified by sex, age group, and the number of chronic conditions.
Results
Considering adjusted values, 2 h/day as a reference, and reporting values in odds ratio (OR) and prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), multimorbidity presented associations with TV-viewing in general from OR (95%CI) 1.10 (1.03–1.18) in 2 to < 3 h/d, to OR (95%CI) 1.57 (1.40–1.76) in ≥ 6 h/d, except in 2 to < 3 h/d time category for male and 35 to 49 years, and all time categories for 18 to 34 years. In addition, TV-viewing was associated with an increasing number of chronic conditions, all greater in ≥ 6 h/d 2 conditions - PR (95%CI) 1.24 (1.08–1.43); 3 conditions - PR (95%CI) 1.74 (1.45–2.08); 4 or more conditions - PR (95%CI) 2.29 (1.93–2.73), except in 2 conditions on 2 to < 3 h/d. Other types of screen-based behaviors were only associated with multimorbidity among males ≥ 6 h/d: OR (95%CI) 1.22 (1.01–1.48) and older individuals (65 years) in some time categories 3 to < 6 h/d: OR (95%CI) 1.98 (1.42–2.77) and ≥ 6 h/d: OR (95%CI) 1.73 (1.06–2.84).
Conclusion
Intervention strategies for reducing screen time in Brazilian adults should focus mainly on TV-viewing, which seems to be associated with more harmful conditions than time on other types of screen-based behaviors.
Therapeutic potential of Zingiberaceae in Alzheimer's disease Bortolucci, Wanessa de Campos; Trettel, Jessica Rezende; Bernardi, Danilo Magnani ...
Boletín latinoamericano y del Caribe de plantas medicinales y aromáticas,
9/2020, Letnik:
19, Številka:
5
Journal Article
•Novel synthesis route to ternary GO/WO3NW/PAni nanocomposite.•Synthetic control has led to improved supercapacitor performances.•Electrochemical properties dependents of synthetic method.
Ternary ...nanocomposites have been widely studied as new design-controlled materials for the next generation of high-performance electrochemical electrodes. However, several drawbacks have hampered their widespread exploration, especially regarding the understanding of the influence in the synthesis methodology over the performances. We investigate herein the properties of a novel ternary nanocomposite GO/WO3NW/PAni, derived from two distinct synthesis methods: chemical and electrochemical. The obtained materials were fully characterized, and their electrochemical performance were compared according to the method employed for their synthesis. Our results demonstrated that the type of synthesis influences directly on the final structure of the ternary nanocomposite. The electrochemically synthesized nanocomposite (E-GO/WO3NW/PAni) presented a disorganized structure, which increases the doping level in the polymeric chain, the porosity, and also allows a superior synergistic effect between the GO, WO3NW and PAni when compared to the chemical synthesized nanocomposite (C-GO/WO3NW/PAni). As a result of these significant differences, E-GO/WO3NW/PAni presented higher specific capacitance, of 0.62 F cm−2, and higher cyclability when compared to the C-GO/WO3NW/PAni, that has achieved values up to 0.50 F cm−2. These remarkable results show directly the influence and importance of the optimization of synthetic methods over the performances, producing nanocomposites with different structures and good synergic effect that can be regarded as promising materials for energy storage field.
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•Pandemics can become a new indirect driver of tropical deforestation.•Halting illegal deforestation should be considered an essential activity during the pandemic.•Forest fires could ...aggravate the health risks of COVID-19.•Tropical deforestation will increase the risks of emerging zoonotic diseases.•Indigenous people should be especially protected during the current pandemic.
Tropical deforestation drivers are complex and can change rapidly in periods of profound societal transformation, such as those during a pandemic. Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred illegal, opportunistic forest clearing in tropical countries, threatening forest ecosystems and their resident human communities. A total of 9583km2 of deforestation alerts from Global Land Analysis & Discovery (GLAD) were detected across the global tropics during the first month following the implementation of confinement measures of local governments to reduce COVID-19 spread, which is nearly double that of 2019 (4732km2). We present a conceptual framework linking tropical deforestation and the current pandemic. Zoonotic diseases, public health, economy, agriculture, and forests may all be reciprocally linked in complex positive and negative feedback loops with overarching consequences. We highlight the emerging threats to nature and society resulting from this complex reciprocal interplay and possible policy interventions that could minimize these threats.
There are many kinds of Exploit Kits, each one being built with several vulnerabilities, but almost all of them are written in JavaScript. So, we created an antivirus, endowed with machine learning, ...expert in detecting JavaScript malware based on Runtime Behaviors. In our methodology, JavaScript is executed, in a controlled environment. The goal was to investigate suspicious file behavior. Our antivirus, as a whole, dynamically monitors and ponders 7690 suspicious behaviors that the JavaScript file can do in Windows 7. As experiments, the authorial antivirus is compared to antiviruses based on deep as based on shallow networks. Our antivirus achieves an average accuracy of 99.75% in the distinction between benign and malware, accompanied by a training time of 8.92 s. Establishing the relationship between accuracy and training time is essential in information security. Eight (8) new malware are released every second. An antivirus with excessive training time can become obsolete even when released. As our proposed model can overcome the limitations of state-of-the-art, our antivirus combines high accuracy and fast training. In addition, the authorial antivirus is able to detect JavaScript malware, endowed with digital antiforense, such as obfuscates, polymorphic and fileless attacks.
A fully three-dimensional carpet cloak presenting invisibility in all viewing angles is theoretically demonstrated. The design is developed using transformation optics and three-dimensional ...quasi-conformal mapping. Parametrization strategy and numerical optimization of the coordinate transformation deploying a quasi-Newton method is applied. A discussion about the minimum achievable anisotropy in the 3D transformation optics is presented. The method allows to reduce the anisotropy in the cloak and an isotropic medium could be considered. Numerical simulations confirm the strategy employed enabling the design of an isotropic reflectionless broadband carpet cloak independently of the incident light direction and polarization.
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