Binary Bat Algorithm for Feature Selection

Feature selection aims to find the most important information to save computational efforts and data storage. We formulated this task as a combinatorial optimization problem since the exponential growth of possible solutions makes an exhaustive search infeasible. In this work, we propose a new nature-inspired feature selection technique based on bats behavior, namely, binary bat algorithm The wrapper approach combines the power of exploration of the bats together with the speed of the optimum-path forest classifier to find a better data representation. Experiments in public datasets have shown that the proposed technique can indeed improve the effectiveness of the optimum-path forest and outperform some well-known swarm-based techniques. © 2013 Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Decifrando a função de processos ecológicos e evolutivos na distribuição local e regional de artrópodes em plantas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Formação de professores: as diretrizes nacionais e o poder local

Coming as a result from a comprehensive research based on Lima’s studies (2008), this article is intended for investigating the process of reorganization of the Pedagogy course offered by a state public university since 2006, when the new National Curricular Guides were instituted. The subject matter brings up as one of its purposes to identify the main difficulties and the possible answers given in order to cause the changes to happen, taking in consideration both the external and internal interests of the institution. To further these aims, actual instruments were applied to the research: documents related to the Pedagogy course that were kept in the Council of the university and interviews with the members who took part in the process of readjustment. Because it is a public university, at first there was a mistaken presumption of the primacy of an administration founded upon democratic principles, in which the divergent opinions do not turn out to be taken as mere pretexts, but as an opportunity of dialogue and to establish collective projects. However, the results of the analysis shook that basic assumption and proved the opposite: the process was led to a rational/bureaucratic pattern of administration, the goals of which intended to adjust the institution to the external precepts and to establish the consensus — understood here as an absolute lack of conflicts. Nevertheless, it was chosen to conciliate the Pedagogy course to the national guides, without causing any harm to the departmental interests. These are reasons that justify satisfactorily the fact of this article being supposed to raise and quicken new and revitalized debate whenever there is an engagement of those who are most concerned for the duty of student teachers’ instruction, but mainly that of being expected to participate in the effective discussion/decision — making process of creating ends which to strive and work for.

O local de nidificação do sabiá-barranco (Turdus Leucomelas) (Aves, Turdidae) afeta a temperatura interna do ninho durante a incubação e cuidado à prole?

Individuals of the species Turdus leucomelas are adapted to live in environments already modified by humans, thus obtaining reproductive success in their nesting in vegetation, as well as built their nests in human buildings. Nests found in buildings are often less camouflaged, making them more exposed to predators compared to nests built in vegetation; however the nests built buildings are common, indicating a possible advantage associated with these nests. By means of this idea if was assumed that a possible advantage to this construction in buildings is linked to a change in variation in the internal temperature of the nest during incubation and development of pups until they leave their nests. Accordingly, with the aid of iButtons and TidBits (temperature data loggers), the present study aimed to analyze the influence of the nesting site on how the temperature is kept, and how it changes in the microenvironment in which the nest is inserted, indicating potential benefits associated with that choice. In the samples found with the vegetation, temperature data showed a pattern of temperature of the microenvironment of the nests is not very stable, varying with ambient temperature, whereas in the samples found with the human constructions, the temperature data showed a pattern of temperature microenvironment nests more stable for a long time. When comparing the two environments which they settled nests, as well as the different times of day (daytime and nighttime), how the temperature was kept and pattern of change within the nest was significantly different (F=43.85, p<0.001), with higher and more constant internal temperatures in nests installed in construction, compared to vegetation. When observing periods of the day, it was found that in both environments the temperature inside the nest reached higher values and higher than the environment at night, coinciding with the rest of the female at night. Data may suggest changes in the...