An evaluation of approaches for enhancing inductive learning with a transductive view

Availability of enough labeled data is a challenge for most inductive learners who try to generalize based on limited labeled dataset. A traditional semi-supervised approach for the same problem attempts to approach it by methods such as wrapping multiple inductive learners on derived pseudo-labels, unsupervised feature extraction or suitable modification of the objective function. In this work, a simple approach is adopted whereby an inductive learner is enhanced by suitably enabling it with a transductive view of the data. The experiments, though conducted on a small dataset, successfully provide few insights i.e. transductive view benefits an inductive learner, a transductive view that considers both attribute and relations is more effective than one that considers either attributes or relations and graph convolution based embedding algorithms effectively captures the information from transductive views compared to popular knowledge embedding approaches.

Terras arrasadas, cenários distópicos: Violência e resistência nos desastres-crimes da mineração no Brasil

Os rompimentos das barragens nas bacias do Rio Doce e do Rio Paraopeba, respectivamente em novem­bro de 2015 e janeiro de 2019, para além das 300 mortes resultantes diretamente das duas catástrofes e da assustadora destruição ecológica por elas produzida, desencadearam a produção de um tecido de re­lações jurídico-econômicas de magnitude colossal orbitando em torno do processo de reparação. Para os argumentos apresentados neste artigo, recorre-se a dois instrumentos de análise: a aproximação meta­fórica às características das expressões artísticas distópicas e ao correlato efeito de estranhamento pro­vocado ao público, buscando a partir deles desenvolver argumentos e análises com o objetivo de desna­turalizar processos e práticas jurídicas e econômicas observadas neste contexto. Da mesma forma, bus­camos entender a relação de forças assimétricas dos atores envolvidos, atendo-nos contrastivamente às estratégias corporativas e às situações de resistência, mobilização e engajamento popular no contexto conflitual da luta por reparação integral. Discutimos de que modo as empresas violadoras constituem estratégias de poder que pressionam a desconstituição de saberes e práticas populares nos territórios atingidos e apresentamos a crítica ao uso da forma da violação do direito, oculta nas práticas de planeja­mento destas empresas. Por fim, são analisadas algumas das possibilidades de organização popular no contexto de uma reparação integral, balizadora das lutas mobilizadas contra a naturalização e a legitima­ção, da distópica violência dos desastres-crimes da mineração no Brasil. Palavras-chave: mineração; desastres-crimes; neoextrativismo; atingidos por barragens; reparação de danos. Abstract The dams bursts in the Doce River and Paraopeba River basins, respectively in November 2015 and January 2019, in addition to the 300 deaths resulting directly from the two catastrophes and the overwhelming ecological destruction they produced, triggered the production of a fabric of legal-economic relations of colossal magnitude orbiting around the reparation process. For the arguments presented in this article, two analysis arguments are used: the metaphorical convergence to the characteristics of dystopian artistic expressions, and the correlated effect of estrangement evoked, seeking to develop further arguments and analyses with the purpose of deconstruct established legal and economic processes and practices observed in this context. Similarly, we seek to understand the asymmetrical power relations of the actors involved, contrasting corporate strategies with situations of resistance, mobilization, and popular engagement in the conflictual context of the struggle for full reparation. We discuss how the violating companies constitute strategies of power that pressure for the deconstitution of popular knowledge and practices in the affected territories, and we present a critique of the use of rights violation hidden in the planning practices of these companies. Finally, some of the possibilities of popular organization in the context of full damage compensation are reviewed, underpinning the struggles mobilized against naturalization and legitimation, of the dystopian violence of the mining disasters-crimes in Brazil. Keywords: mining; disasters crimes; neoextractivism; affected by dams; damage repair. Tierras devastadas, escenarios distópicos: Violencia y resistencia en desastres-crímenes mineros en Brasil Resumen Las fallas de las represas en las cuencas de Río Doce y Río Paraopeba, respectivamente, en noviembre de 2015 y enero de 2019, además de las 300 muertes directamente resultantes de las dos catástrofes y la espantosa destrucción ecológica provocada por ellas, desencadenaron la producción de un tejido de re­laciones jurídico-económicas de colosal magnitud en torno al proceso de reparación. Para los argumentos presentados en este artículo, recurrimos a dos instrumentos de análisis: la aproximación metafórica a las características de las expresiones artísticas distópicas y el relacionado efecto de extrañamiento provo­cado en el público, buscando desarrollar argumentos y análisis con el objetivo de desnaturalizar procesos y practicas jurídicas y económicas observadas en este contexto. Asimismo, buscamos comprender la re­lación de fuerzas asimétricas de los actores involucrados, enfocándonos en estrategias corporativas y situaciones de resistencia, movilización y compromiso popular en el contexto conflictivo de la lucha por la reparación integral. Discutimos cómo las empresas violadoras constituyen estrategias de poder que presionan la desconstitución de saberes y prácticas populares en los territorios afectados y presentamos la crítica al uso de la forma de violación del derecho, escondida en las prácticas de planificación de estas empresas. Finalmente, se analizan algunas de las posibilidades de organización popular en el contexto de la reparación integral, que sustenta las luchas movilizadas contra la naturalización y legitimación, de la violencia distópica de los desastres-crímenes mineros en Brasil. Palabras-clave: minería; desastres-crímenes; neoextractivismo; afectados por represas; reparación de da­ños.

Lessons learned on health information, education and communication for Chikungunya prevention in countries with risk areas: a scoping review

With the emergence of Chikungunya arboviruses with its outbreaks and changes in its epidemiology in Brazil, the theoretical-methodological framework of Scoping Review was carried out aimed to prepare a systematic summary of global scientific knowledge and understand the practices and prevention programs of Chikungunya with actions information, education, and communication in health developed in countries with risk areas. References were searched in eight databases until October 2018. Of the 376 articles, 177 were duplicates. Applying the exclusion criteria for reading the title and abstract, 145 were excluded, being considered 19 potentially relevant articles. Health information confers its domain in the literature in entomological and epidemiological surveillance, pointing out challenges for the continuing education of health professionals. Actions for vector control and prevention – especially those related to risk communication – have not influenced behavior, driving only punctual changes, that is, attitudes. However, there is a tendency not to consider community and popular knowledge and practices, as well as the active participation and protagonist of the population.

A Likely Story: The Da Vinci Code as Work on Myth

<p>Theory of myth is used as an explanatory framework within which to explore the enormous and controversial popular appeal of the novel The Da Vinci Code, first published in 2003. The Da Vinci Code is a site of contestation between truth and falsity. Modernity has used the category of myth to contain and control false stories that claim to be true. Myth is characterised here as story-with-significance but also as story believed by people other than scholars and the guardians of legitimate culture. The novel reinserts story into religious history, finding 'natural' significances to replace those progressively exposed and expunged by scholarship and liberal theology. Code's major themes, the sacred feminine and the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, endorse popular knowledge about religion, inheritance, identity, community and gender, knowledge that is threatened by detraditionalisation, feminism, and modernity's emphasis on the autonomous individual. The bloodline myth's move into the category of fiction further blurs the boundaries between the legitimately true and the mythically false.</p>

A Likely Story: The Da Vinci Code as Work on Myth

<p>Theory of myth is used as an explanatory framework within which to explore the enormous and controversial popular appeal of the novel The Da Vinci Code, first published in 2003. The Da Vinci Code is a site of contestation between truth and falsity. Modernity has used the category of myth to contain and control false stories that claim to be true. Myth is characterised here as story-with-significance but also as story believed by people other than scholars and the guardians of legitimate culture. The novel reinserts story into religious history, finding 'natural' significances to replace those progressively exposed and expunged by scholarship and liberal theology. Code's major themes, the sacred feminine and the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, endorse popular knowledge about religion, inheritance, identity, community and gender, knowledge that is threatened by detraditionalisation, feminism, and modernity's emphasis on the autonomous individual. The bloodline myth's move into the category of fiction further blurs the boundaries between the legitimately true and the mythically false.</p>

Female slam poets of francophone Africa: spirited words for social change

Slam poets in Africa are part of an emerging social movement. In this article, the focus is on women in this upcoming slam movement in francophone Africa. For these women, slam has meant a change in their lives as they have found words to describe difficult experiences that were previously shrouded in silence. Their words, performances and engaged actions are developing into a body of popular knowledge that questions the status quo and relates to the ‘emerging consciousness’ in many African urban societies of unequal, often gendered, power relations. The women who engage in slam have thus become a voice for the emancipation of women in general.

Medicinal plants used in the Amazon region: a systematic review

The Amazon region’s biodiversity is exploited by the local population, commonly for therapeutic purposes. Given this information, the goal of this study was to perform a systematic review on medicinal plants used in this region, listing the name of the species, location found, and its importance for traditional medicine and for local people. For this, a search was performed in the PubMed/Medline and Lilacs databases, using the descriptors medicinal plants, Amazonia or Amazon region, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The main findings demonstrate that different species from different botanical families are used by the local population. The main therapeutic outcomes sought out refer to the search for relief or treatment of gastrointestinal, hepatic alterations, fever, kidney stones, pain, infections, and parasites. Thus, it is concluded that the practice of traditional medicine is very common in the Amazon region and is transmitted orally from generation to generation. In this practice, the use of medicinal plants in the form of tea is highlighted, with the species in the form of powder, dried or natural plants. Therefore, it is recommended that the strengthening of pharmacological studies involving local medicinal plants can provide scientific support for popular knowledge.

Ethnopharmacology of the angiosperms of Chapada of Araripe located in Northeast of Brazil

The Chapada of Araripe located in the Northeast of Brazil, presents a great vegetal diversity. Associated with this, the region presents a great cultural plurality, which reflects in several popular knowledge, such as the use of medicinal plants in the region. The objective of this work was to carry out an ethnopharmacological bibliographic survey of angiosperms present in the region. The scientific name of species was associated with the keywords "traditional use", "traditional medicine" "traditional knowledge" and "Brazil" to collect information published and available on Pubmed, Science Direct, Scielo and Scopus Platform. Subsequently, the species with the greatest versatility of use were selected and their relative importance (RI) indexes were calculated. As a result, 92 species with medicinal potential were identified in the Chapada of Araripe, corresponding to 81 genera and 44 botanical families, with Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae and Rubiaceae being the taxa that presented the highest number of species with 16, 6, 5 and 5 respectively. The 10 most versatile species were Anacardium occidentale (RI: 1.38), Astronium urundeuva (1.86), Copaifera langsdorffii (2.00), Hancornia speciosa (1.81), Himatanthus drasticus (1.62), Hymenaea stigonocarpa (1.89), Lafoensia pacari (1.83), Libidibia ferrea (1.43), Scoparia dulcis (1.71) and Ximenia americana L. (1.46). Finally, we emphasize that Chapada of Araripe is a region of great biological and cultural value, being important actions for the preservation of local flora and traditional knowledge.

Neo-Traditional Medicines: Ethnographic Contributions to Conceptual Definition

Since the end of 1970, the World Health Organization has encouraged the development of public policies that expand the approach to care and the therapeutic possibilities offered by its member states beyond technoscientific health care. In Brazil, the institutionalization of this approach is related to the promotion of popular and traditional knowledge associated with the usage of medicinal plants. With this convergence as an argumentative horizon, in this ethnography we examine the institutionalization of pharmaceutical services that have become known in Brazilian public health policy as living pharmacies. This term has been mobilized throughout the history of phytotherapy in Brazil and refers to the possibility of instituting the use of medications that expand care approaches and problem resolution possibilities beyond the domain of the biomedical sciences, evoking alliances with so-called traditional and popular knowledge and practices. For this, we propose and discuss the concept of neo-traditional medicines as a comprehensive-interpretative category, verifying the approximation and distancing points assigned to it in contemporaneous anthropological literature. Beyond the domain of science over other fields of knowledge, we argue in favour of this category in order to present new arrangements and social dynamics that define Brazil’s medication policies.