Himatanthus tarapotensis (Apocynaceae) connu au Pérou comme "bellaco caspi", est un arbre répandu dans plusieurs types d’habitat de l’Amazonie péruvienne où il est très utilisé en médicine traditionnelle pour le traitement de certaines maladies. Les propriétés médicinales des espèces de Himatanthus sont liées notamment à la présence du terpène bioactif pluméricine. Le potentiel pharmacologique de la pluméricine et le succès reproductif de H. tarapotensis ont mené à la réalisation de cette étude afin d’explorer les patrons de production de ce composé le long des variations des gradients environnementaux déterminés par les différents types d’habitat où la plante pousse naturellement. Cependant, il existe une confusion autour de la délimitation des espèces du genre Himatanthus qui pousseraient au Pérou et les noms scientifiques qui doivent être utilisés. En conséquent une partie de cette étude a consisté en l’évaluation taxonomique du genre Himatanthus. Dans la première partie de la thèse est présentée une révision synoptique des espèces de Himatanthus de l'Amazonie péruvienne, avec la finalité d'introduire une stabilité taxonomique de ces espèces au Pérou. Trois espèces de Himatanthus se trouvent au Pérou : H. tarapotensis, H. phagedaenicus et H. revolutus, distinguées entre eux notamment par des traits reproductifs. Dans la seconde partie, les feuilles d’individus juvéniles de H. tarapotensis qui se développent sur deux types d’habitat ont été prélevées pour évaluer la production de pluméricine en fonction des facteurs environnementaux : type de sol, période de précipitations, et pression des insectes en tenant compte de la croissance de la plante. La production de pluméricine chez H. tarapotensis ne montre pas différences significatives en fonction des types de sol. Mais, il a été observé une variation temporelle de la concentration du composé corrélée positivement avec la pression des insectes, notamment avec la larve herbivore Isognathus leachii (Lepidoptera : Sphingidae) et négativement avec la croissance. En même temps, ces deux facteurs ont été corrélés avec la précipitation, ce qui suggère que l’intensité de pluie influencerait la production de pluméricine de manière indirecte. Le composé bioactif pluméricine pourrait avoir un patron de production déterminé par son rôle médiateur des interactions de H. tarapotensis avec son environnement. / Himatanthus tarapotensis (Apocynaceae) known in Peru as "bellaco caspi", is a common tree from several habitats in the Peruvian Amazon, where is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Medicinal properties from species of Himatanthus have been mainly related to the presence of a bioactive terpene plumericin. The pharmacological potential of plumericin and reproductive success of H. tarapotensis gave rise to the present study to explore the production patterns of this compound in function of environmental gradients determined by the different habitat types where this species grows in nature. However, the delimitation of Himatanthus species has long been problematic, and much confusion remains as to which names should be used and which species delimitations should be adopted. Consequently, a part of this study was dedicated to a taxonomic revision of Himatanthus species occurring in Peru. Therefore, in chapter 1 is presented a synoptic revision of Himatanthus species from the Peruvian Amazon, with the aim of introducing taxonomic stability of those species in Peru. Three species of Himatanthus are present in Peru: H. tarapotensis, H. phagedaenicus and H. revolutus, distinguished among themselves mainly by reproductive traits. In chapter 2, leaves collected from juvenile individuals of H. tarapotensis growing on two Amazonian habitats were used to evaluate the plumericin production in relation to environmental factors: soil type, period of precipitation, and insects pressure, keeping in mind their relation with the growth patterns of the plant. Plumericin production in H. tarapotensis was not affected by differences in soil types. However, it was observed a temporal variation in the concentration of this compound correlated positively to the insects pressure, mainly with the herbivorous larva of Isognathus leachii (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) and negatively to the growth pattern of the plant. These two factors were correlated to the rainfall, thus suggesting that precipitation would be affecting indirectly on plumericin production. The bioactive compound plumericin would have a production pattern determined by its mediator role in interactions phenomena of H. tarapotensis and its environment.

Land surface albedo describes the proportion of incident solar radiant flux that is reflected from the Earth's surface and therefore is a crucial parameter in modeling and monitoring attempts to capture the current climate, hydrological, and biogeochemical cycles and predict future scenarios. Due to the temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of land surface albedo, remote sensing offers the only realistic method of monitoring albedo on a global scale. While the distribution of bright, highly reflective surfaces (clouds, snow, deserts) govern the vast majority of the fluctuation, variations in the intrinsic surface albedo due to natural and human disturbances such as urban development, fire, pests, harvesting, grazing, flooding, and erosion, as well as the natural seasonal rhythm of vegetation phenology, play a significant role as well. The development of times series of global snow-free and cloud-free albedo from remotely sensed observations over the past decade and a half offers a unique opportunity to monitor and assess the impact of these alterations to the Earth's land surface. By utilizing multiple satellite records from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments, and developing innovative spectral conversion coefficients and temporal gap-filling strategies, it has been possible to utilize the strengths of the various sensors to improve the spatial and temporal coverage of global land surface albedo retrievals. The availability of these products is particularly important in tropical regions where cloud cover obscures the forest for significant periods. In the Amazon, field ecologists have noted that some areas of the forest ecosystem respond rapidly with foliage growth at the beginning of the dry season, when sunlight can finally penetrate fully to the surface and have suggested this phenomenon can continue until reductions in water availability (particularly in times of drought) impact the growth cycle. While it has been difficult to capture this variability from individual optical satellite sensors, the temporally gap-filled albedo products developed during this research are used in a case study to monitor the Amazon during the dry season and identify the extent of these regions of foliage growth.

Orientador: Ling Chau Ming / Resumo: O trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a agricultura e inventariar as plantas alimentícias utilizadas na Terra Indígena Kaxinawá de Nova Olinda (TIKNO), Feijó, Acre, Brasil. A pesquisa foi realizada entre os anos de 2016 e 2020. A metodologia utilizada para o estudo dos sistemas de cultivo e de plantas alimentícias encontradas nessas áreas cultivadas foi a de entrevistas semiestruturadas e visitas in loco nas áreas de produção agrícola; já o estudo de plantas alimentícias silvestres, foi realizado através de listagem livre e turnê guiada em áreas de floresta da TIKNO, sendo realizados com especialistas indígenas, de ambos os sexos, e idades entre 19 e 70 anos. Para complementar também foi feito um diagnóstico socioeconômico da comunidade, auxiliando na compreensão da forma com que o conhecimento vem sendo difundido entre as diferentes famílias e gerações. Os dados coletados foram processados e avaliados através de análises descritivas e qualitativas. Com relação aos sistemas de cultivo, foram identificados quatro sistemas principais para produção agrícola, sendo eles: roçado de corte/queima, bananal, cultivo de praia e quintal agroflorestal, cada qual com características distintas entre sí. Ao todo foram identificadas 115 espécies vegetais comestíveis, sendo 50 espécies consideradas cultivadas nesses sistemas de cultivo, distribuídas em 41 gêneros, 26 famílias botânicas, e representadas por 144 variedades locais. Dentre todas as espécies cultivadas, as que apresentaram ma... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The work aimed to characterize the agriculture and cultivation of plants used in the Kaxinawá Indigenous Land of Nova Olinda (TIKNO), Feijó, Acre, Brazil. A survey was carried out between the years 2016 and 2020. A methodology used for the study of cultivation systems and food plants, in these cultivated areas, was that of semi-structured interviews and visits to places in the areas of agricultural production; the study of wild food plants, on the other hand, was carried out through the list of books and was guided in areas of the TIKNO forest, being carried out with indigenous specialists, both sexes and ages between 19 and 70 years. In addition, a socio-economic diagnosis of the community was also made, helping to understand the way in which knowledge is disseminated among different families and used. The collected data were processed and applied through descriptive and qualitative analyzes. Regarding the cultivation systems, four main systems of agricultural production were used, being: cutting / burning clearing, banana plantation, beach cultivation and agroforestry yard, each with different characteristics. In all, 115 edible plant species were identified, 50 species cultivated in the cultivation systems, distributed in 41 genera, 26 botanical families and represented by 144 local varieties. Among all cultivated species, the largest number of varieties were Banana (Musa ssp.), With 20 varieties, Cassava (Manihot esculenta Krantz.), With 19 varieties, and Corn (Zea mays L... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The Amazon rainforest constitutes a quarter of the global biodiversity and is responsible for 15% of the terrestrial photosynthesis. It is important to protect the forest and limit the deforestation to not release more greenhouse gases, which aggravate climate change. There is a big problem today with deforestation, especially in the Peruvian Amazon. In Peru is the main driver to deforestation human activity, such as road infrastructure, markets and agriculture. It is most common with small-scale agriculture, especially in the Cusco region where this study is conducted. How the deforestation should be managed or if current instruments are working is there different perspectives on. In this essay are the different perspectives regarding the exploitation of the Amazon and its impacts being analyzed. The essay has an interview method and the interviews are carried out on members of non-governmental organizations and Cusco regional government. Our analysis shows that the different perspectives show similarities regarding the main drivers for the deforestation, the information and knowledge-gap regarding the impacts of deforestation. There is, however, a difference in the perspectives regarding funds. One perspective from the non-governmental members is that there is not enough funding to receive as well as that the funds that do exist go to people and projects that do not do the work properly. / Amazonas regnskog utgör en fjärdedel av den globala biologiska mångfalden och ansvarar för 15% av den markbundna fotosyntesen. Det är viktigt att skydda skogen och begränsa avskogningen att inte släppa ut mer växthusgaser, vilket förvärrar klimatförändringar. Det finns ett stort problem idag med avskogning, särskilt i Peruanska Amazonas. I Peru är den viktigaste drivkraften att avskogningen mänsklig aktivitet, såsom väginfrastruktur, marknader och jordbruk. Det är mest vanligt med småskaligt jordbruk, särskilt i Cusco-regionen där denna undersökning genomförs. Hur avskogningen ska hanteras eller om nuvarande instrument fungerar finns det olika perspektiv kring. I denna uppsats beskrivs olika perspektiv på utnyttjandet av Amazonas och dess konsekvenser. Uppsatsen har en intervjumetod och intervjuerna utförs på medlemmar i icke-statliga organisationer och Cuscos regionala regering. Vår analys visar att de olika perspektiven har likheter angående de viktigaste drivkrafterna för avskogningen och informations- och kunskapsklyftan om avskogningens effekter. Det finns dock en skillnad i perspektivet kring finansiering. Ett perspektiv från de icke-statliga medlemmarna är att det inte finns tillräckligt med finansiering att få och att de ekonomiska medel som finns går till personer och projekt som inte gör jobbet korrekt.

Fantasies about warrior women circulated in many forms of writing in early modern England: travel narratives such as Sir Walter Ralegh's The Discoverie of Guiana (1595) portray Amazon encounters in the New World; poems like Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene (1596) depict women's skill with a spear; and the plays of Shakespeare, John Fletcher, and others stage the adventurous feats of women on the battlefield. In this dissertation, I analyze the social anxieties that emerge when warrior women threaten gender hierarchies in the patriarchal society of early modern England. The battlefield has traditionally been a site for men to prove their masculinity against other men, so when male characters find themselves submitting to a sword-wielding woman, they are forced to reimagine their own masculine identities as they become the objects acted upon by women. In their experience of subjectivity, these literary warrior women often allude to the historical Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign destabilized ideas about gender and power in the period. Negative evaluations of warrior women often indicate anxiety about Elizabeth as an Amazon-like queen. Thus, portrayals of warrior women often end with a celebration of patriarchal dominance once the male characters have successfully contained the threat of the warrior woman through marriage or death. I argue that these depictions of containment indicate a common desire to maintain patriarchal superiority during and after Elizabeth's reign.

Electricity access is widely recognized as a driver of development. The Brazilian government has incorporated this principle into its national rural electrification program, Luz Para Todos (LPT – Light for all), which has already benefited more than 14 million people in the country since its inception in 2003. But a different electrification model is required if remote areas in the Amazon region are to fully benefit from the program. In general, LPT has been implemented through a grid-based technology. However, the program has been less successful in providing electricity access in the Amazon region. In this region, about 24% of the rural population has no access to electricity. Key challenges are related to the exhaustion of the grid-extension model in isolated areas.  Extending the grid in these areas is neither realistic because of the local topography and natural conditions, nor cost-effective because expensive investments would be required to benefit a small number of citizens with low income and consumption rates. This study suggests an adapted LPT model for delivering electricity access in isolated areas of the Amazon region. In particular, the study offers a policy maker perspective and details the specific needs of isolated communities. It was developed in the form of a case study and included a variety of data sources, gathering techniques and analysis approaches, including an extensive literature review, the collection of in-situ evidence through direct observations and semi- structured interviews. Conclusions draw attention to the need for more local and site-specific solutions. Three issues will be decisive in achieving universal, reliable and affordable access to electricity in the Amazon region. Firstly, harmonization with the regional context is essential as the Amazon is a vast and unique environment. Secondly, there is need for adapting the existing institutional structures to appreciate the conditions and specific needs of rural populations in the Amazon region. Thirdly, securing financial resource allocation and distribution will be decisive in a LPT model aimed at universal electrification in the Amazon. / <p>QC 20120531</p>

In this research, we use an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the narrative of Radio Ucamara in order to render visible the material and spiritual consequences of the largest oil spill of the first decade of the 2000s in Peru. To do so, I analyze two documentaries: Consuelen a mi pueblo. Cuninico, dos años después (14' 37"), and Daños a la espiritualidad kukama (11' 40"). They show their forms of resistance and denunciation through what we call a voz memoriosa. This conceptual metaphor is characterized by intersecting their own social practices (songs, icaros, and stories) with official narratives (the chronology of the spill, the tallying of material damage, and extracts from trials). Thus, their way of presenting the consequences of the spill and of representing themselves in relation to them is not only cross-cultural, but also highly metaphorical. I chose to apply a qualitative approach based on ten extensive, in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews and by instant messaging with Leonardo Tello, director of Radio Ucamara, from May 2020 to June 2021. The analysis and the theoretical concept reveal that documentaries are part of their social practices insofar as they involve community members and the non-human subjectivities with whom they relate. Thus, they, on their own terms, manage to interweave Western perspectives of linear (cause-consequence) remembrance with their polyphonic remembrance of organic aesthetics. The concept that I propose allows us to broaden Ginsburg’s use and understanding of organic aesthetics. The study also offers an analysis of the way in which those affected describe the consequences that environmental pollution brings directly upon their spirituality. / La presente investigación analiza desde un enfoque interdisciplinario la narrativa de Radio Ucamara para visibilizar las consecuencias materiales y espirituales del derrame de crudo de petróleo más grande de la primera década de los 2000 en el Perú. Para ello, analizo dos documentales: Consuelen a mi pueblo. Cuninico, dos años después (14' 37") y Daños a la espiritualidad kukama (11' 40"). Estos muestran sus formas de resistir y denunciar a partir de lo que llamamos una voz memoriosa. Esta metáfora conceptual se caracteriza por intersecar prácticas sociales propias (cantos, icaros e historias) con narrativas oficiales (la cronología del derrame, la contabilización de los daños materiales, extractos de juicios). De ese modo, su forma de presentar las consecuencias del derrame y de representarse frente a ellas no solo es intercultural, sino que es altamente metafórica. Se optó por aplicar un enfoque cualitativo sostenido en diez entrevistas extensas, a profundidad y semiestructuradas vía telefónica y a través de mensajería instantánea con Leonardo Tello, director de Radio Ucamara, desde mayo del año 2020 hasta junio de 2021. Los análisis y concepto teórico hechos permiten entender que los documentales forman parte de las prácticas sociales del territorio en tanto envuelven a los miembros de la comunidad y a las subjetividades no humanas con quienes se relacionan. Así las cosas, ellos, desde sus propios términos, logran entramar las perspectivas occidentales de recuerdo lineal (causa-consecuencia), con su recuerdo polifónico de estética orgánica. El concepto propuesto permite ampliar el uso y la forma de entender la estética orgánica de Ginsburg. Asimismo, el estudio propone un análisis de la forma en la que los afectados narran las consecuencias que la contaminación ambiental trae directamente a su espiritualidad.

Many studies in the genus Poecilia have focused on reproductive and genetic characteristics of Poecilia formosa, the Amazon molly, and its sympatric species P. latipinna and P. mexicana. The research literature of Poecilia dentition has been limited to general tooth morphology. Essentially absent are comparative analyses of dentition patterns and total numbers of teeth. The current study uses dentition analysis as a method to compare species in the genus Poecilia and to address some taxonomic issues related to these fish. The study focused on fish from the areas of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Through the use of scanning electron microscopy, the lower jaws of Poecilia spp were examined to determine total numbers of outer and inner teeth. In addition, the differences in distribution patterns of the inner teeth were recorded and compared. Statistical analyses were performed to determine which comparisons were significant. This study reveals several observations: 1) variations in the numbers of outer and inner teeth exist in some of these fish with respect to site of collection; 2) differences in total teeth numbers and dentition patterns were found both interspecifically and intraspecifically; and 3) in addition, dentition analysis provided evidence regarding the origin of P. formosa. This study supports the current notion that P. latipinna, the proported paternal component, and P. mexicana limantouri, the purported maternal component, are the progenitor species of P. formosa. Two unresolved taxonomic questions were addressed through dentition analysis. First, the present study supports the exclusion of the triploid associate of P. formosa as a separate species from P. formosa. Second, this study shows a significant difference in the number of inner teeth and in dentition patterns between P. mexicana limantouri and P. mexicana mexicana. Such differences, in addition to previously known distinguishing characteristics, should prompt careful consideration of whether or not these taxa deserve specific status or retention of their current subspecific status.

Testicular maturation indices (TMI) were determined for wild-caught males of Poecilia mexicana by quantitative analysis of the frequency of ongoing stages of spermatogenesis and spermatid differentiation in sections of testes stained with the Feulgen reaction for DNA. In nature, males maintain essentially constant levels of sperm production throughout the year and show no significant variations in mean TMI values associated with season, microhabitat, standard body length, or rank in male dominance hierarchies. Winter males or males isolated from females in the laboratory show accumulation of mature spermatophores. These findings suggest that fluctuations in the microstructure of wild populations of Poecilia from northeastern Mexico may be due primarily to differences in the temporal scheduling of female reproductive cycles and not to limitations imposed by sperm availability or male reproductive competence. The data are discussed in terms of competitive interactions within unisexual-bisexual breeding complexes involving the Amazon molly P. formosa, its related triploid hybrids, and the bisexual species, P. mexicana.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the questions of the efficiency around meetings has been in the forefront of some discussion inside companies. One way to measure efficiency is to measure the interactivity between different participants. In order to measure this the participants need to be identified. With the recent spike of Machine learning advancements, is this something that can be done using facial and voice recognition? Another field that has risen to the top is cloud computing. Can machine learning and cloud computing be used to evaluate and monitor a meeting, thus handling both audio and video streams in a real time environment? The conclusion of this thesis is that Artificial Intelligence(AI) can be used to monitor a meeting. To be able to do so Amazon Web Service (AWS) can be utilized. The choice of using a DeepLens was however not best choice. A hardware like DeepLens is required, but with better integration with cloud computing, as well with more freedom regarding the usage of several models for handling both feeds. With the usage of other models to automatic annotate data the time needed for training a new model can be reduced. The data generated during a single meeting is enough with the help of transfer learning from Amazon web service to build a model for facial identification and detection.