Article
Mathematics, Applied
Amparo Baillo, Javier Carcamo, Carlos Mora-Corral
Summary: In this paper, the authors investigate the extreme points of a set of convex functions with a fixed area and specific starting and ending points. This set is comprised of Lorenz curves that have a given Gini index. The authors also compute the maximum L-1 distance between two Lorenz (or ROC) curves with specified Gini coefficients and propose a bidimensional index for comparing the performance of these curves.
JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Anjin Chang, Jinha Jung, Jose Landivar, Juan Landivar, Bryan Barker, Rajib Ghosh
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of parallel SfM processing on public cloud computing and on-premise cluster systems for UAS data, showing that the cloud-based system outperformed in terms of speed-up and efficiency metrics for scalability. The experimental results indicated that public cloud computing could serve as a good alternative computing environment for processing UAS data for agricultural applications.
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Heather Grybas, Russell G. Congalton
Summary: Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and structure-from-motion (SfM) image processing can be important tools for sustainable forest management. This study investigated the impact of flight parameters on the accuracy of estimated forest structure and found that flying height does not significantly affect accuracy, while increasing forward overlap can significantly reduce errors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessandro Lambertini, Emanuele Mandanici, Maria Alessandra Tini, Luca Vittuari
Summary: Precision Agriculture is an approach to maximizing crop productivity using accurate and georeferenced information. This technical note discusses the usage of optical and thermal sensors from UAV platforms for mapping and monitoring in Precision Agriculture. It also provides insights into the challenges and best practices of using UAVs for georeferenced surveys. The accurate maps derived from these surveys can benefit Geographic Information Systems and Decision Support Systems in a multidisciplinary approach.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Indra Overland, Javlon Juraev, Roman Vakulchuk
Summary: This study quantitatively compares the distribution of renewable energy resources and fossil fuel reserves, finding that renewable energy is more evenly distributed. This supports the idea that transitioning to renewable energy can lead to a decentralized global energy system. However, the difference in distribution between renewable energy and fossil fuel reserves is not as significant as assumed, indicating that international energy trade and politics will still play a role.
Article
Environmental Studies
Yong Chen
Summary: This study introduces a set of metrics based on the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient to measure beach litter distribution, finding that litter distribution on UK beaches varies by litter type but remains largely unchanged over time. Symmetric distribution patterns are observed for all beach litters except medical waste, and these patterns strengthen as time progresses. The study also highlights the significant impact of beach location on litter distribution, while seasonality and climatic conditions have negligible effects.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Xiaonan Xue, Jianwen Cai, Qibin Qi, Jordan Carlson, Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Robert Kaplan, Tao Wang
Summary: Traditional summary measures of sedentary behavior fail to reveal patterns of accumulated sedentary behavior over time, while the proposed new weighted survival function as a summary measure can better quantify and predict prolonged uninterrupted sedentary behavior and its association with health outcomes.
STATISTICAL METHODS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lichao Huang, David A. Ratkowsky, Cang Hui, Johan Gielis, Meng Lian, Weihao Yao, Qiying Li, Liuyue Zhang, Peijian Shi
Summary: This paper measures the inequality of leaf area distribution per plant (ILAD) by comparing four inequality indices. The results show that these indices are closely related and can be used interchangeably to quantify ILAD.
Article
Mathematics
Songpu Shang, Songhao Shang
Summary: In this study, a shape-preserving cubic Hermite interpolation method was proposed to accurately estimate the Gini coefficient, which performed well in grouped data with fewer groups and met the essential requirements of the Lorenz curve.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Omid Seyedashraf, Andrea Bottacin-Busolin, Julien J. Harou
Summary: This paper proposes a design approach that combines traditional design objectives with social goals to achieve a more equitable distribution of infrastructure benefits in urban drainage systems. By using a multi-dimensional search algorithm and an urban rainfall-runoff simulation model, planners can make trade-offs between spatial equity and cost-effectiveness when selecting future interventions in urban water systems.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Remote Sensing
Sam Ottoy, Nikolaos Tziolas, Koenraad Van Meerbeek, Ilias Aravidis, Servaas Tilkin, Michail Sismanis, Dimitris Stavrakoudis, Ioannis Z. Gitas, George Zalidis, Alain De Vocht
Summary: This study aimed to find the optimal flight parameters and processing options for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tree detection, and tested the transferability of the developed algorithm. The results showed that processing options had a greater impact on accuracy and precision than flight parameters.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Ronald Rousseau, Lin Zhang, Gunnar Sivertsen
Summary: This article aims to contribute to the study of collaboration in science by proposing a new indicator, BIC, to measure balance in collaboration. The BIC is based on the Gini evenness index for a weighted Lorenz curve and builds upon the previously introduced indicator of relative intensity of collaboration, RIC. Examples based on the collaboration network between the top twenty countries contributing to science during 2000-2020 are presented.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin T. Fraser, Russell G. Congalton
Summary: The research utilizes Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced image processing techniques to estimate tree diameters and various stand-level parameters in forests, with an average error reported. Stand-level parameters were either overestimated or underestimated, with a lesser overestimation for stands larger than 9 hectares. Random forest supervised classification achieved a promising overall accuracy of 85% in identifying large trees, offering local land managers opportunities for better understanding forested ecosystems. Future research on individual tree crown detection, especially for co-dominant or suppressed trees, will further enhance these efforts.
Article
Parasitology
Robert Poulin, Bronwen Presswell
Summary: In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of trained experts in parasite taxonomy and systematics, raising concerns about the future of the field. This study provides the first quantitative analysis on the subject, focusing on helminths parasitic in fish. The findings reveal that a small group of highly prolific taxonomists are responsible for the majority of new species descriptions, indicating a concentration of research output in the hands of a few individuals. Furthermore, there is a lack of turnover and a majority of these taxonomists are in the later stages of their career, suggesting a potential crisis in parasite taxonomy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Rohit Saini, Manjeet Kaur
Summary: Income distribution is highly skewed among farm households, with most marginal and small farmers in lower-income strata. Less-educated and resource-poor farmers rely more on non-agricultural and unorganised sources of income. Livestock and casual wages contribute to decreasing income inequality. Therefore, policy interventions such as small holder farmer-centric farming systems, low interest rate loans for women engaged in livestock rearing, agro-processing units, and skill development centres should be implemented.
COGENT FOOD & AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Rodolfo Souza, Samantha Hartzell, Andre Pereira Freire Ferraz, Andre Quintao de Almeida, Jose Romualdo de Sousa Lima, Antonio Celso Dantas Antonino, Eduardo Soares de Souza
Summary: This study simulated relative soil water content and soil penetration resistance under semi-arid rainfall conditions for different soil classes. The findings suggest that sandy soils impose significant physical limitations on root growth during the majority of a typical hydrological year, with irrigation potentially required to prevent impairment. The modeling framework presented can help in planning tillage management schedules and preventing physical limitations on crop growth.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Maria Isidoria Silva Gonzaga, Jose Carlos de Jesus Santos, Andre Quintao de Almeida, Kassio da Ros, Wallace Melo Santos
Summary: Changes in the bioavailability of nitrogen and phosphorus due to biochar application can impact plant growth, with different types and application rates of biochar showing varying effects on plant nutrient uptake efficiency, with biochar generally showing positive effects on soil amendment when used alone.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Dayane Franciely Conceicao Santos, Milene Abreu Souza, Andre Quintao de Almeida, Izabela Maria Montezano de Carvalho
Summary: The study on university restaurant menus revealed that the content of polyphenols is influenced by the degree of food processing. Correlation coefficient of 0.5 was found between total polyphenols and fresh/minimally processed foods in omnivorous menu, while a correlation of 0.7 was observed between flavonoids and ultraprocessed foods in vegetarian menu.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GASTRONOMY AND FOOD SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sandra Aguiar de Oliveira Pires, Adriano Ribeiro de Mendonca, Gilson Fernandes da Silva, Marcus Vinicius Neves d'Oliveira, Luis Claud de Oliveira, Jeson Pereira Martins Silva, Evandro Ferreira da Silva
Summary: The research evaluated regression models accuracy for projecting diameter growth in Amazon forests for two tree species, showing the importance of estimated cutting cycle and diameter growth rates for logging decisions.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bruno Cesar Comini de Andrade, Olavo Correa Pedrollo, Anderson Ruhoff, Adriana Aparecida Moreira, Leonardo Laipelt, Rafael Bloedow Kayser, Marcelo Sacardi Biudes, Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos, Debora Regina Roberti, Nadja Gomes Machado, Higo Jose Dalmagro, Antonio Celso Dantas Antonino, Jose Romualdo de Sousa Lima, Eduardo Soares de Souza, Rodolfo Souza
Summary: This study assesses the ability of artificial neural networks to predict soil heat flux using extensive remote sensing and meteorological data in South America. The results show that ANN outperforms existing models in reducing mean absolute errors and including land cover information as an input further improves its performance in G prediction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ricardo Pinheiro Cabral, Gilson Fernandes da Silva, Andre Quintao de Almeida, Santiago Bonilla-Bedoya, Henrique Machado Dias, Adriano Ribeiro De Mendonca, Nivea Maria Mafra Rodrigues, Carem Cristina Araujo Valente, Klisman Oliveira, Fabio Guimaraes Goncalves, Tathiane Santi Sarcinelli
Summary: This study estimated several parameters for the classification of successional stages in secondary vegetation areas using 3D digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) data obtained from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The results showed that UAV photogrammetry metrics can be used to accurately estimate the height, diameter, and basal area of secondary vegetation, with a performance similar to LiDAR. This method also allowed for the classification of successional stages in the analyzed forest areas.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Thais Mendes Brito, Glaucileide Ferreira, Joao Gabriel Missia da Silva, Adriano Ribeiro De Mendonca, Humberto Fantuzzi Neto, Juarez Benigno Paes, Djeison Cesar Batista
Summary: This study assessed the biological resistance of thermally modified eucalyptus and teak short-rotation wood. The thermal modification did not improve the resistance against brown-rot and white-rot fungi, but it did improve the resistance against subterranean and dry-wood termites. Teak showed higher resistance than eucalyptus for both untreated and thermally modified wood.
WOOD MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jeferson Pereira Martins Silva, Mayra Luiza Marques da Silva, Adriano Ribeiro de Mendonca, Gilson Fernandes da Silva, Antonio Almeida de Barros Jr, Evandro Ferreira da Silva, Marcelo Otone Aguiar, Jeangelis Silva Santos, Nivea Maria Mafra Rodrigues
Summary: This study evaluated the use of Random Forest and ANFIS techniques in predicting forest production. The results showed that these techniques performed well on the training and validation datasets, providing high prediction accuracy.
INFORMATION PROCESSING IN AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Marcia Rodrigues de Moura Fernandes, Gilson Fernandes da Silva, Andre Quintao de Almeida, Milton Marques Fernandes, Adriano Ribeiro de Mendonca, Fabio Guimaraes Goncalves, Daniel Henrique Breda Binoti, Jeferson Pereira Martins Silva
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of spectral and texture variables extracted from an MSI/Sentinel-2 image in estimating and mapping aboveground biomass (AGB) in a dry forest in northeastern Brazil. The study found that texture variables extracted from a 7x7-pixel window were the best predictors, and the parametric model of multiple linear regression (MLR) was the most accurate estimation method. This study contributes to filling the gap in using optical data for AGB estimation in the region and provides valuable information for the management of natural resources.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jeangelis Silva Santos, Adriano Ribeiro de Mendonca, Fabio Guimara Goncalves, Gilson Fernandes da Silva, Andre Quintao de Almeida, Samuel de Padua Chaves e Carvalho, Jeferson Pereira Martins Silva, Rachel Clemente Carvalho, Evandro Ferreira da Silva, Marcelo Otone Aguiar
Summary: This study aimed to use Landsat data to predict and project eucalyptus forest growth and yield, as well as analyze forest growth dynamics. The estimation was performed using artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF) algorithms. The results showed that the proposed methodology can reduce the sampling intensity of traditional continuous forest inventories without significant loss of accuracy, thus achieving cost reduction.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Thais Mendes Brito, Jessica Sabrina Silva Ferreira, Glaucileide Ferreira, Joao Gabriel Missia da Silva, Adriano Ribeiro de Mendonca, Humberto Fantuzzi Neto, Juarez Benigno Paes, Djeison Cesar Batista
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of a closed system thermal modification process on physical and mechanical properties of eucalypt and teak short-rotation wood. The results showed that thermal modification reduced mechanical resistance and hygroscopicity while increasing dimensional stability of wood. Teak was found to be more resistant to failure in static bending, while eucalypt wood exhibited higher resistance to compression parallel to the grain.
INTERNATIONAL WOOD PRODUCTS JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diego Marcelino do Nascimento, Aldo Torres Sales, Rodolfo Souza, Antonio Samuel Alves da Silva, Everardo Valadares de Sa Barretto Sampaio, Romulo Simoes Cezar Menezes
Summary: The accurate estimation of biomass in tropical dry forests is still a challenge. In this study, a methodology was developed using field and orbital data, regression models, and high-performance computation to estimate biomass stocks in a tropical dry forest in Northeast Brazil. By combining various vegetation spectral indices and satellite sensor data, regression model equations were generated to predict biomass stocks. These equations, along with other map data, were used to plot a map of biomass stock in the entire region.
REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS-SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
