6 research outputs found
The new termite killers: control of Philippine subterranean termites (Isoptera) using toxicant baits
No full textThe Philippines supports 54 known species of termites encompassing eighteen genera. Within these genera, three families are of economic importance and associated with damage to wood products and timber structures, viz., Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae and Kalotermitidae. Four subterranean termite species are considered serious structural pests, viz., Coptotermes vastator Light, Nasutitermes luzonicus Oshima, Macrotermes gilvus Hagen and Microcerotermes losbanosensis. These species are widely distributed and cause significant structural damages. Current methods to control these wood-boring insects ranged from chemical barrier to termite baits.
The present paper discusses the benefits of termite baiting vis-a-vis the conventional chemical barrier treatments. Current research of the author on the search for potential bait toxicant against Philippine subterranean termites showed that thiamethoxam and chlorfluazuron are effective against C. vastator, N. luzonicus, M. gilvus and M. losbanosensis. Foraging populations and territories of these species are also discussed, as well as future trend in control methods against higher species (Termitidae) of subterranean termites
Plautus' 'Mercator': a commentary
No full textThis thesis comprises an introduction, a lemmatic commentary, and indices. The introductory
chapter, apart from a brief discussion of a more general nature, investigates the play and the
relation it bears to Philemon's Emporos, its lost Greek model, especially with regard to the actdivisions
of the Greek play and the pacing of the action in Plautus' adaptation. The commentary is
provided to address problems posed by the Latin text, notably those of exegesis, textual criticism,
metre, grammar, humour, imagery, staging, and the relationship to the Graeco-Roman comic
tradition. An attempt is also made to distinguish between elements which may reflect the Greek
comic tradition and those which suggest Plautine origin. In recent work about Plautus and
Philemon it has been argued that the plot of the Emporos underwent far-reaching changes at the
hands of Plautus, but the author of this thesis argues for the essential unity of the Mercator and
for Plautus' conservative treatment of the plot of the Greek original, at the same time allowing for
the fact that Plautus may have Romanised, exaggerated, and extended Philemon's play at certain
points. By its structure, metrical arrangement, pacing, juxtaposition of contrasting types, parallel
arrangement of core scenes, and the recurrence of key imagery, themes and motifs, the Mercator
proves to be a carefully conceived, effectively balanced, and well-composed play
Development of Watercolor Paint Made from Plant Pigments
No full textThis study focused on the development and evaluation of watercolor samples derived from alternative materials. It aimed to identify the physical characteristics of the developed watercolors, including color temperature (warm or cool) and lightfastness (fugitive or non-fugitive). The study also evaluated the quality of the samples using a four-point Likert scale, focusing on granulation, staining, transparency, and pigment number, and sought to determine any significant differences between the developed samples and commercially available control samples. An experimental research design was employed, and data were gathered from artists, Drafting Technology students, and faculty members from the College of Industrial Technology. The results were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). Findings revealed that all red, yellow, and blue treatments exhibited cool shades, whereas control yellow samples showed warm tones. In terms of lightfastness, all developed colors were rated as semi-fugitive. For granulation, red treatments were rated as semi-granulating, while yellow and blue treatments were non-granulating. Regarding staining, RT50 red was classified as staining, and RT25 and RT75 as highly staining; yellow and blue treatments were also rated as highly staining. All color treatments were rated opaque in terms of transparency. As for pigment composition, RT50 was identified as containing triple pigments, while the others contained multiple pigments. ANOVA results showed significant differences between the developed and control samples. In red color samples, granulation, staining, and pigment number showed significant differences, while transparency did not. For yellow and blue samples, granulation and pigment number were also found to be significantly different, while staining and transparency were not. These findings suggest that the developed watercolor samples, despite being derived from alternative materials, exhibit characteristics and performance comparable to those of commercial watercolors, supporting their potential use in creative and technical applications
Perícia psicológica de transtornos mentais relacionados ao trabalho
No full textTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Florianópolis, 2014.No Brasil, os Transtornos Mentais e Comportamentais (TMC) estão entre a segunda e a terceira causa de afastamento do trabalho, na iniciativa pública e privada, respectivamente. Quando um trabalhador adoece e comprova judicialmente a relação do infortúnio com o seu labor, ele tem direito a uma série de garantias, dentre as quais está a de receber indenização pelo dano à sua saúde e integridade. Em ação judicial, para compreender se há relação entre o TMC e o labor, o magistrado poderá nomear um perito da área psi (psicólogo ou psiquiatra). Tendo em vista a importância na produção de conhecimento sobre a atuação do psicólogo no âmbito jurídico, sobretudo neste tipo de avaliação, o objetivo desta tese foi o analisar o papel da perícia psicológica de TMC relacionados ao trabalho (TMC&T) na Justiça do Trabalho. A pesquisa foi documental; os dados observados foram: (1) 172 decisões judiciais da Justiça Laboral de pedidos de indenização por TMC&T que mencionaram um laudo ou outro informe confeccionado por psicólogo e (2) 50 informes psicológicos (47 laudos psicológicos e três pareceres técnicos), anexados em processos judiciais e decorrentes de investigações de nexos entre TMC&T. Os resultados mostram: (1) em termos de caracterização das decisões judiciais, 76 das 172 foram processadas no TRT4, (Rio Grande do Sul); a natureza jurídica mais expressiva da contratação do psicólogo como perito foi a de nomeação para aquele fim, ou ad hoc, em 132 delas; o maior número de ações intentadas por categoria profissional foi a dos bancários, em 36 processos; a psicopatologia prevalente foi a depressão, em 112 casos. No conteúdo das decisões analisadas se observou que perícias psicológicas baseadas unicamente em entrevistas realizadas com o trabalhador, desconsiderando outros procedimentos, tais como vistoria do ambiente de trabalho, genericamente, são consideradas pelos julgadores como parciais e não comprovam o alegado pelo obreiro. Exemplo disso é a observação de que nos casos em que o resultado da perícia foi pelo nexo entre TMC&T e o resultado do julgamento não, as perícias basicamente tiveram como procedimento uma entrevista com o autor, situação expressivamente criticada pelos magistrados. Informes confusos, contraditórios e obscuros, cuja linguagem continha jargões profissionais, juízos de valor e incorreções técnicas tiveram trechos transcritos nas decisões e foram reputados pelos julgadores como ineptos ou insuficientes. Em seis casos foram observados questionamentos jurídicos dos advogados das empresas acionadas acerca da capacidade técnica do psicólogo para realizar perícias de TMC&T, os quais solicitaram nulidade do procedimento do exame técnico feito pelo psicólogo. Em todos os casos, os juízes entenderam pela competência técnico-profissional do psicólogo para esse tipo de perícia, fundamentados em chancela legal e de normativas da categoria. (2) Na análise dos laudos e pareceres técnicos psicológicos, feita com base na Resolução CFP 007/2003, evidenciou-se que somente 14 dos 50 informes descreveram a demanda segundo o exposto nessa normativa; apenas 25 expuseram o procedimento ou método de trabalho; a entrevista psicológica foi mencionada como um dos instrumentos do procedimento em 49 documentos e, em 30 trabalhos foi feita unicamente com o periciado; os testes psicológicos foram citados como parte do procedimento em 27 laudos; surpreendentemente, a avaliação pericial do ambiente laboral foi realizada apenas em sete dos 50; o uso de fundamentos teóricos foi constatado em 19 trabalhos. A conclusão que sobressai é a importância de incluir no procedimento pericial psicológico a visita técnica à reclamada. Dessa forma, cumpre aos psicólogos peritos que atuem no contexto laboral (averiguação de TMC&T) saírem do ambiente seguro de seus consultórios em direção ao local do engendramento do adoecimento apontado pelo autor, ou seja, que procedimentem a avaliação psicológica de forma a que os fenômenos sejam observados de maneira contextualizada, ao abrigo do pensamento complexo. Fundamental à sua atuação é não esquecer que a conclusão de seus trabalhos impactará diretamente a vida do periciado. É essencial que o psicólogo reconheça a extensão do poder que lhe é outorgado quando realiza ou participa de processos periciais e confecciona seus respectivos documentos, para a adoção de uma postura responsável e ética. Atuando dessa forma, poderá mais adequadamente auxiliar na efetivação de direitos e garantias à saúde do trabalhador.Abstract : In Brazil, Mental and Behavioral Disorders (MBD) are among the second and the third leading cause of absenteeism in the public and private sector, respectively. When a worker falls ill and legally proves that the misfortune is related with his or her work, they are entitled to a number of guarantees, among them to receive compensation for damage to their health and integrity. In the lawsuit, to understand whether there is a relationship between the MBD and labor, the judge may appoint an expert in the psi (psychologist or psychiatrist) field. Given the importance of the production of knowledge about the work of the psychologist within the legal framework, especially in this kind of evaluation, the aim of this thesis was to analyze the role of psychological Work-related MBD expertise in the Labor Court (WMBD). The research is documentary and the observed data were: (1) 172 judgments of the Labor Justice of indemnity claims for WMBD that mentioned a report or other information offered by a psychologist and (2) 50 psychological reports (47 psychological reports and three technical advice), attached to lawsuits and proceedings arising from investigations of links between WMBD. The results show that: (1) in terms of characterization of judgments , 76 of 172 were processed at the TRT4 (Local Labor Court 4) (Rio Grande do Sul); the nature of the work of the most significant legal employment of the psychologist as an expert was to be appointed for that purpose, or as a ad hoc professional, in 132 of the judgements; the largest number of actions brought by professional category was related to workers working in banking, 36 actions, and depression was the prevalent psychopathology in 112 cases. The analysis of the content of the decisions showed that the psychological evaluation based solely on interviews with the worker, disregarding other procedures such as inspection of the workplace, are, generally, considered by the judges as partial evidence, not offering enough evidence of the claims of the worker. Example is that in cases where the result of the expertise was based in the link between WMBD and the outcome of the trial, the basic procedure of the expertise was based in an interview with the author of the claim, a situation that was expressively criticized by magistrates. Confusing, contradictory and obscure reports, which language contained professional jargon, value judgments and technical inaccuracies had excerpts transcribed in decisions by the judges and were reputed as inept or inadequate. In six cases in which corporate lawyers were fired, questions were raised about the technical capacity of the psychologist to perform reports on WBMD, and requests were made for the the annulment of the technical examination made by the psychologist. In all cases, the judges understood that the psychologists had technical and professional competence for that kind of expertise, based on the legal stamp and normative of the category. (2) In the analysis of psychological reports and expert opinions, which were based on the CFP Resolution 007/2003, it was revealed that only 14 of the 50 reports described the demand according to the rules set out in this document, only 25 exhibited the procedure or method of work; psychological interview was mentioned as one of the instruments of the procedure in 49 papers, and in 30 studies the interview was performed only with the worker; psychological tests were cited as part of the procedure in 27 reports; surprisingly, the expert assessment of the work environment was performed in only seven of 50; the use of theoretical foundations was found in 19 papers. The conclusion that emerges from this study is the importance of including in the expert procedure the technical visit to the work environment. Thus, it is fundamental for expert psychologists operating in the labor context (evaluating WMBD) to leave the safe environment of their offices towards the location of the begetting of the illnesses targeted by the author, namely to proceed to perform the psychological evaluation in a way that the observed phenomena are placed in their original context. Fundamental to its operation is not to forget that the conclusion of their work will impact directly the lives of the workers under assessment. It is essential that psychologists recognize the extent of the power granted to them when they perform or take part in forensic processes and manufactures their documents, to adopt a responsible and ethical stance. Acting this way, they can more adequately assist in enforcing rights and guarantees to workers' health
BenthicNet: A global compilation of seafloor images for deep learning applications
No full textAdvances in underwater imaging enable the collection of extensive seafloor
image datasets that are necessary for monitoring important benthic ecosystems.
The ability to collect seafloor imagery has outpaced our capacity to analyze
it, hindering expedient mobilization of this crucial environmental information.
Recent machine learning approaches provide opportunities to increase the
efficiency with which seafloor image datasets are analyzed, yet large and
consistent datasets necessary to support development of such approaches are
scarce. Here we present BenthicNet: a global compilation of seafloor imagery
designed to support the training and evaluation of large-scale image
recognition models. An initial set of over 11.4 million images was collected
and curated to represent a diversity of seafloor environments using a
representative subset of 1.3 million images. These are accompanied by 2.6
million annotations translated to the CATAMI scheme, which span 190,000 of the
images. A large deep learning model was trained on this compilation and
preliminary results suggest it has utility for automating large and small-scale
image analysis tasks. The compilation and model are made openly available for
use by the scientific community at https://doi.org/10.20383/103.0614
BenthicNet: A global compilation of seafloor images for deep learning applications
No full textAbstract
Advances in underwater imaging enable collection of extensive seafloor image datasets necessary for monitoring important benthic ecosystems. The ability to collect seafloor imagery has outpaced our capacity to analyze it, hindering mobilization of this crucial environmental information. Machine learning approaches provide opportunities to increase the efficiency with which seafloor imagery is analyzed, yet large and consistent datasets to support development of such approaches are scarce. Here we present BenthicNet: a global compilation of seafloor imagery designed to support the training and evaluation of large-scale image recognition models. An initial set of over 11.4 million images was collected and curated to represent a diversity of seafloor environments using a representative subset of 1.3 million images. These are accompanied by 3.1 million annotations translated to the CATAMI scheme, which span 190,000 of the images. A large deep learning model was trained on this compilation and preliminary results suggest it has utility for automating large and small-scale image analysis tasks. The compilation and model are made openly available for reuse
