Optimization of neural classifiers based on bayesian decision boundaries and idle neurons pruning

In this article we describe a feature extraction algorithm for pattern classification based on Bayesian Decision Boundaries and Pruning techniques. The proposed method is capable of optimizing MLP neural classifiers by retaining those neurons in the hidden layer that realy contribute to correct classification. Also in this article we proposed a method which defines a plausible number of neurons in the hidden layer based on the stem-and-leaf graphics of training samples. Experimental investigation reveals the efficiency of the proposed method. © 2002 IEEE.

Productivity of cherry tomatoes under protected cultivation carried out with different types of pruning and spacing

The aim of the study was to evaluate production and determine the level of total soluble solids for cherry tomatoes, under protected cultivation carried out with different types of spacing and pruning. The experiment was performed according to a randomized block design in a 2×2 factorial scheme, with two types of spacing between plants and two types of pruning, and with five repetitions. The cultivar 'Sindy' (De Ruiter) was utilized. Each experimental parcel contained seven plants, and fruits were collected from the five central plants. The seedlings were produced in Styrofoam trays of 128 cells and transplanted at 33 days after planting using two types of spacing between plants (0.3 and 0.5 m) and 1 m spacing between rows. The plants were grown as single-or double-stem form and staked individually. The parameters evaluated were the number of fruit per plant, fresh weight of fruit and the level of total soluble solids expressed in °Brix. There was no evidence of significant interaction between the treatments. For fresh weight of fruit per plant, there was a significant effect when the plants were grown with a spacing of 1 × 0.5 m, with 4.12 kg per plant, compared to a production of 3.00 kg per plant with a spacing of 1 × 0.3 m. With regard to the number of fruit per plant, a significant difference was seen between the two types of spacing, where a spacing of 1 × 0.3 m yielded a lower number of fruit per plant (188.8), compared to that observed with a spacing of 1 × 0.5 m (238.1). With regard to the two types of pruning, there was a significant effect for only the number of fruit per plant, where the mean number of fruit was 188.4 with one stem and 238.4 with two stems. No significant difference was observed between the treatments for the level of total soluble solids. It is concluded that for the cultivar 'Sindy', under protected cultivation, production is better with a spacing of 0.5 m between plants and the use of two stems per plant.

Optimum-Path Forest pruning parameter estimation through Harmony Search

Pattern recognition in large amount of data has been paramount in the last decade, since that is not straightforward to design interactive and real time classification systems. Very recently, the Optimum-Path Forest classifier was proposed to overcome such limitations, together with its training set pruning algorithm, which requires a parameter that has been empirically set up to date. In this paper, we propose a Harmony Search-based algorithm that can find near optimal values for that. The experimental results have showed that our algorithm is able to find proper values for the OPF pruning algorithm parameter. © 2011 IEEE.

Análise das tensões de água no solo cultivado com morangueiro sob poda

Strawberry yield and quality was evaluated after drastic pruning (second cycle), under different soil water tensions, drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted on beds at a greenhouse, located at Engineering Department, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), from April to December of 2010. An experimental design was in randomized blocks with three replicates. The treatments were composed of six different soil water tension, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 e 70 kPa. Results obtained allowed to verify that to higher values of: total and commercial fresh weight of fruits per plant, total and commercial number fruits per plant and total and commercial yield, it is necessary to irrigate when soil water tension gets approximately to 15 kPa, at 0.15 m deep. Commercial average fruit mass and noncommercial fresh weight of fruits per plant, were not reduced under different soil water tensions applied.

Prospects for the use of municipal tree pruning wastes in particleboard production

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard made with pruning wastes from Ipê (Tabebuia serratifolia) and Chapéu-de-Sol (Terminalia catappa) trees. Particleboards were prepared with both wood species, using all the material produced by grinding the pruning wastes. The particleboards had dimensions of 45×45 cm, a thickness of approximately 11.5 mm and an average density of 664 kg/m3. A urea-formaldehyde adhesive was used in the proportion of 12% of the dry particle mass. The particleboards were pressed at a temperature of 130 C for 10 mins. The physical and mechanical properties analyzed were density, moisture content, thickness swelling, percentage of lignin and cellulose, modulus of resilience, modulus of elasticity and tensile strength parallel to the grain, accordingly to the standards NBR 14810 and CS 236-66 (1968). The particleboards were considered to be of medium density. The particle size significantly affected the static bending strength and tensile strength parallel to the grain. Ipê presented better results, demonstrating a potential for the production and use of particleboard made from this species. © The Author(s) 2013.

Substrato com composto de lixo e poda de árvore para produção de mudas de Pterogyne nitens

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cultura do milho (Zea mays L.) em sucessão com aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb.) em áreas sob manejo agroflorestal em aléias com Leucaena diversifolia

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Genetical-demographic data from two amazonian populations composed of descendants of african slaves: Pacoval and Curiau

The Amazon region of Brazil includes communities founded by escaped slaves, some of which still remain relatively isolated. We studied two such Afro-Brazilian communities (Pacoval and Curiau), in the rural area of Alenquer, Pará, and in the metropolitan region of Macapá, Amapá, respectively. Among 12 blood loci, alleles considered as markers of African ancestry, such as HBB*S, HBB*C, TF*D1, HP*2M, ABO*B, RH*D-, and CA2*2 were found at frequencies that are expected for populations with a predominantly African origin. Estimates of interethnic admixture indicated that the degree of the African component in Curiau (74%) is higher than that of Pacoval (44%); an Amerindian contribution was not detected in Curiau. Estimated values of African ancestry fit well with the degree of isolation and mobility of the communities. Pacoval exhibited a high proportion of immigrants among the parents and grandparents of the individuals studied, whereas persons living in Curiau exhibited a low level of mobility, despite its location in the metropolitan area of Macapá city, suggesting a relatively strong barrier against the interethnic admixture in this population. In addition, analysis of genetic data in a sub-sample consisting of individuals whose parents and grandparents were born in the study site, and that probably represents the populations two generations ago, indicated that gene flow from non-black people is not a recent event in both populations.

Giberelina, citocinina e auxina na qualidade química de bagas de uva superior seedless

Trials were carried out in Juazeiro, Bahia State, Brazil, aiming to test plant regulators composed by gibberellin, cytokine and auxin effects on chemical quality of Superior Seedless grape berries. The first trial studied the effects of Stimulate (R) (bio regulator) and X-Cyte (R) (cytokine) associated to a new gibberellin formulation (N-Large (R)) and associated to Pro-Gibb (R), which is a product used as source of gibberellin. Products were sprayed at berries development phase (18, 21, 51 and 56 days after spur-pruning). Treatments were: T1: Pro-Gibb (R); T2: Stimulate (R) (Dose 1); T3: Stimulate (R) (Dose 2); T4: Stimulate (R) (Dose 3); T5: Pro-Gibb (R) + X-Cyte (R) (Low Dose - DB); T6: Pro-Gibb (R) + X-Cyte (R) (Intermediate Dose - DM); T7: Pro-Gibb (R) + X-Cyte (R) (High Dose - DA); T8: N-Large (R); T9: N-Large (R) + X-Cyte (R) (DB); T10: N-Large (R) + X-Cyte (R) (DM); T11: N-Large (R) + X-Cyte (R) (DA). The second trial aimed to assess the effect of the new gibberellin formulation (N-Large (R)) associated or not with cytokine (X-Cyte (R)) also sprayed straight over the bunches at berries development phase (17, 55 e 66 days after spur-pruning). Treatments were: T1: Pro-Gibb (R) - blank; T2: N-Large (R) (DB); T3: N-Large (R) (DM); T4: N-Large (R) (DA); T5: N-Large (R) (DB) + X-Cyte (R) (DB); T6: N-Large (R) (DB) + X-Cyte (R) (DM); T7: N-Large (R) (DB) + X-Cyte (R) (DA); T8: N-Large (R) (DM) + X-Cyte (R) (DB); T9: N-Large (R) (DM) + X-Cyte (R) (DM); T10: N-Large (R) (DM) + X-Cyte (R) (DA); T11: N-Large (R) (DA) + X-Cyte (R) (DB); T12: N-Large (R) (DA) + X-Cyte (R) (DM); T13: N-Large (R) (DA) + X-Cyte (R) (DA). Experimental design was random blocks with four repetitions with each repetition/parcel having three useful plants in the same row. At harvest, when bunches average had soluble solids over 15 degrees Brix, berries were collected for soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity analysis as well as (SS/AT) ratio calculation. In both trials, plant regulators evaluated did not provide significant changes on chemical quality of 'Superior Seedless' grape berries. Therefore, the lack of differences on response between the commercially used product (Pro-Gibb (R)) and the other products tested (Stimulate (R), X-Cyte (R) e N-Large (R)) prove the last as promising for the ` Superior Seedless' grape cultivation, leaving a larger range of alternative for grape farmers in the Sao Francisco Valley, Bahia.

Influence of rootstocks and pruning times on yield and on nutrient content and extraction in 'Niagara Rosada' grapevine

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

Pruning methods to MLP neural networks considering proportional apparent error rate for classification problems with unbalanced data

This article deals with classification problems involving unequal probabilities in each class and discusses metrics to systems that use multilayer perceptrons neural networks (MLP) for the task of classifying new patterns. In addition we propose three new pruning methods that were compared to other seven existing methods in the literature for MLP networks. All pruning algorithms presented in this paper have been modified by the authors to do pruning of neurons, in order to produce fully connected MLP networks but being small in its intermediary layer. Experiments were carried out involving the E. coli unbalanced classification problem and ten pruning methods. The proposed methods had obtained good results, actually, better results than another pruning methods previously defined at the MLP neural network area. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Análise comparativa de técnicas de recuperação ambiental em áreas degradadas no município de Bofete/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Recovery Tests of an Hybrid Current Limiter Composed of a SFCL in Parallel to an Air-Core Power Reactor

The resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCL) prototypes using YBCO-coated conductors have shown current limitation for medium voltage class applications for acting time up to 80 ms. By connecting an air-core reactor in parallel with the RSFCL, thus making an hybrid current limiter, one can extend the acting time for up to 1 s. In this work, we report the performance of a hybrid current limiter subjected to an AC peak fault current of 2 kA during 1 s for which within the first 80 ms the SFCL limits the current concurrently with the air-core reactor, and for the remaining 920 ms, only the air-core reactor limits the current. In order to evaluate the actual conditions for subsequent reconnection of RSFCL to the power grid, the hybrid fault current limiter was tested varying the time interval for recovery from 900 ms and 1.2 s, followed again by the concurrent operation of the hybrid limiter during 1 s (SFCL during 80 ms). From this evaluation test, the recovery time can be measured and compared using the voltage peak generated in superconducting module from the first and second fault test. The recovery time was also determined through the pulsed current method (PCM) on short-length sample test. The results showed that the fault current was limited from 1.9 kA down to 514 A after 1 cycle of 60 Hz frequency, with recovery time lower than 1.2 s for two subsequent fault current tests.

Análise dos métodos de leira estática e de revolvimento manual na compostagem de resíduos orgânicos gerados em restaurante universitário

Composting is considered a process that enables adding value to organic solid waste turning them into organic fertilizer. In this process, factors such as mishandling the windrow, failed to control the temperature, aeration and moisture content will result in the quality of waste decomposition, and thus affect the quality of the final compound. Decentralized systems such as home composting, composting in restaurants, food courts and schools are one of the solutions for valuing these waste in a non expensive way and with greater quality. For this purpose, the project aims to analyze the conditions for composting of solid waste of the University Restaurant of Rio Claro- SP, through two different composting systems: manual revolving windrow and static pile. It was found that in University Restaurant (RU) on average 33% by weight of the total waste generated in the property are capable of composting. In this sense, in order to investigate the preliminary process operation parameters were mounted one manual windrow composed of 100% of the UR waste and a static pile composed of 60% of the UR waste and 40% of pruning and grass residues (PG). This study analyzed the manual revolving windrow and static pile systems for the parameters: moisture content, pH, C / N ratio and temperature. The study of the proportions of the PG and UR waste pointed to the need for pruning and grass residues addition for composting, considering that the manual revolving windrow composed by 100% of the UR waste had no satisfactory performance due to low temperatures measured during 60 days analysis. The best ratio for manual revolving windrow method analyzed in this study was 60% of the UR waste and 40% of PG waste, in dry weight. From this proportion a static pile was assembled, composed of 60% of UR waste e 40% of PG waste from the maintenance activities of the green area of the university. The biological activity in the static pile reached the maximum temperature of ...

Feasibility of solar heating systems composed of recyclable packaging for low-income rural communities

Solar heaters are an appropriate technology in tropical and sub-tropical climates to heat bath water by solar energy. Low-cost solar heaters meet the demand of low-income rural communities which currently do not have access to this technology. Current research analyzes the economic viability of solar heaters, built with recyclable materials, to reduce electric energy bill. A solar heating system was built consisting of recyclable materials in accordance with the manuals provided by the Secretariat of Environment of the state of Paraná (SEMA). Duration of use of electric showers by families of rural properties was determined to calculate expenses and billing of electricity. Simulation and material costs showed that the system was feasible. Commercial solar heaters could be replaced at a cost of R$ 22.61 per month during 13 months.