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Objectives: From a cross-cultural perspective, aging well may encompass pertinent challenges in terms of adjustment, sexual well-being, and satisfaction with life in the late years. Considering the paucity of empirical data concerning cultural diversity of experiencing aging, this study aims to help fill this gap by assessing the specific patterns of sexual satisfaction, adjustment to aging (AtA), and life satisfaction with life (SwL) of older adults in Portugal and Spain. Methods: This cross-national study included 326 older adults, age 65 and older, from Portugal and Spain. Five instruments were applied: (a) Adjustment to Aging Scale (ATAS); (b) Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS); (c) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Short (NSSS-S); (d) Mini-Mental State Exam; and (e) Sociodemographic, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire. K-means cluster analysis was employed to identify and characterize the clusters considering adjustments to aging, sexual satisfaction, and life satisfaction. One-way ANOVAs were conducted to analyze differences in sexual well-being among clusters. Results: Findings indicated three clusters, which explained 77.7% (R-sq = 0.777) of the total variance: Cluster 1: “Most skilled” (n = 26, 8.0%), Cluster 2: “Least adjusted” (n = 115, 35.3%), and Cluster 3: “Aging strivers” (n = 185, 56.7%). Participants in Cluster 1 were mostly Portuguese, with high levels of AtA, sexual satisfaction, and SWL. Conversely, Cluster 2 included mostly Portuguese participants with moderate sexual satisfaction and lower levels of AtA and SwL. Participants from Cluster 3 were mostly Spanish, with moderate levels of AtA and reduced sexual satisfaction and SwL. Conclusions: This study innovates by exploring the elaborate interplay among sexual satisfaction, AtA, and SwL in a cross-cultural perspective, with implications for tailoring interventions, service planning, development, and evaluation of culturally diverse older populations.

This paper analyses the level of knowledge and engagement of the students of the Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management (GADE) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (Gipuzkoa Section) of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) on the SDGs using Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis. This analysis makes it possible to identify different patterns or profiles of student behavior in relation to sustainability. The results show the coexistence of four different patterns of behavior in relation to knowledge, perception, and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainability among students. We identify a first group comprising 23.4% of students with low knowledge and high commitment to the SDGs; a second group that includes 30.4% of students with high knowledge of and commitment to the SDGs; a third group comprising 30% of students with low knowledge of and commitment to the SDGs; and finally, a fourth group comprising 16.2% of students with high knowledge of and low commitment to the SDGs. This scenario suggests the necessity to make further progress in the incorporation of the sustainable development dimension in the teaching-learning processes.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate agronomic performance in cultivars of the Cavendish banana under the soil and climate conditions of the microregion of Assis in the state of São Paulo over three production cycles. The experiment was set up at the Fazenda São José Farm, Água do Pau d´Alho, in Palmital, São Paulo. The Grande Naine, IAC2001 and FHIA02 cultivars were evaluated, considering the following variables: cultivar; plant height; pseudostem perimeter; number of leaves at flowering and harvest; number of days from planting to flowering, from planting to harvest, and from flowering to harvest; weight of the bunch, stalk and fruit per bunch; number of hands per bunch; productivity of the fruit and pulp; weight and number of fingers on the second hand; weight, length and diameter of the finger; pulp diameter; and weight and thickness of the peel. The data were subjected to multivariate statistical techniques (principal component factor analysis, tree clustering, two-way joining, and correspondence). The results showed the extraction of three principal factors that accounted for 89.63% of the total variance of the characteristics under analysis: banana production (Factor 1), vegetative development (Factor 2), and cultivars and fruit diameter (Factor 3). The productive performance of the FHIA02 cultivar was homogeneous and inferior to that of the other cultivars, as seen in the two-way joining cluster analysis. Only the Grande Naine and IAC2001 cultivars are recommended for cultivation in the micro-region of Assis, São Paulo, with Grande Naine showing the largest fruit and, especially, the largest pulp diameter.

By identifying audience subgroups, cluster analysis (a quantitative technique) helps Extension agents tailor their education and communication programs to specific audiences. This publication falls under the Cluster Analysis for Extension and Other Behavior Change Practitioners series and discusses key information and terminology associated with cluster analysis. The publication thus builds upon “Cluster Analysis for Extension and Other Behavior Change Practitioners: Introduction,” which introduced cluster analysis as a technique for audience segmentation. This publication provides essential information for the publications which follow, “A Practical Example” and “Integrating the Results of Cluster Analysis into Meaningful Audience Engagement.”

Background. During the implementation of the project "The relationship between the lipoprotein profile of the blood plasma and the parameters of the neuroendocrine-immune complex, and the influence of the factors of the Truskavets’ spa on them", we first divided observed cohort into 5 homogeneous groups that differed from each other by 6 discriminant variables. The purpose of this study is to identify the metabolic accompaniment of plasma lipoprotein profile in the same persons. Material and research methods. The object of observation were 41 volunteers: 20 women aged 30-76 years and 21 men aged 24-69 years without clinical diagnose but with dysfunction of neuroendocrine-immune complex and dysmetabolism. We estimated lipoprotein profile of plasma, determined the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, parameters of lipid peroxidation as well as routine biochemical and paraclinical parameters. Results. The patients with increased, normal and decreased levels of Dobiásová’s&Frohlich’s Atherogenic Index of Plasma (D&FAIP) are characterized, together with levels of Triglycerides and HDLP Cholesterol by definition, by specific constellations of levels of IL-6, IL-1, Diene conjugates, Malondialdehyde, Katalase, Glucose, and Alanine aminotransferase (classification accuracy is 98.8%). A close canonical correlation was found between the parameters of the plasma lipoprotein profile, on the one hand, and metabolism and erythroon, on the other (R=0.920). Conclusion. Atherogenic, normal and anti-atherogenic blood plasma is characterized by specific levels of markers of inflammation, lipid peroxidation, cytolysis and erythroon.

Abstract Background Health has dynamic conditions and overlapping pathophysiological factors. For health prevention and promotion, actions are necessary to understand the most common risk combinations. Objective Describe noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) clusters and investigate specific multimorbidity combinations in Brazilian adults and older adults. Method This study used data from Vigitel 2013 survey held in the Brazilian capitals (52,929 interviews). A self-report of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity was used. The analyses were the descriptive cluster of NCDs and an adjusted binary logistic regression (odds ratio [OR]), stratified by age. Results Among adults, the clusters of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity (O/E = 18.74) and diabetes, hypertension, and obesity (O/E = 16.83) were higher. There was a higher clustering between diabetes and obesity (O/E = 7.25). Among adults, diabetes was associated with dyslipidemia (OR: 3.04), hypertension (OR: 3.84), and hypertension with obesity (OR: 3.34). In older adults, hypertension was associated with diabetes (OR: 2.79), dyslipidemia (OR: 2.06), and obesity (OR: 2.26). Conclusion Other diseases combined with diabetes and hypertension were more frequent in adults and older adults. It is suggested to combine preventive and control measures for these diseases for the non-occurrence of new diagnoses.

This study identified spatial clusters of type 2 diabetes mellitus among participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) residing in two cities and verified individual and neighborhood socioeconomic environmental characteristics associated with the spatial clusters. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4,335 participants. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was defined as fasting blood glucose ≥ 126mg/dL (7.0mmol/L), oral glucose tolerance test ≥ 200mg/dL (11.1mmol/L), or glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5% (48mmol/L); by antidiabetic drug use; or by the self-reported medical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics were obtained from the 2011 Brazilian census. A spatial data analysis was conducted with the SaTScan method to detect spatial clusters. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the magnitude of associations. In total, 336 and 343 participants had type 2 diabetes mellitus in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State (13.5%) and Salvador, Bahia State (18.5%), respectively. Two cluster areas showing a high chance of type 2 diabetes mellitus were identified in Belo Horizonte and Salvador. In both cities, participants living in the high type 2 diabetes mellitus cluster area were more likely to be mixed-race or black and have a low schooling level and manual work; these were also considered low-income areas. On the other hand, participants in the low type 2 diabetes mellitus cluster area of Salvador were less likely to be black and have low schooling level (university degree) and live in a low-income area. More vulnerable individual and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics were associated with living in clusters of higher type 2 diabetes mellitus occurrence , whereas better contextual profiles were associated with clusters of lower prevalence.

Abstract The soymilk is a ready-to-eat, nutritious and naturally cholesterol-free product. Several soybean specialty cultivars were developed in Brazil in order to increase the human consumption of soybean products. The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutritional composition and consumer acceptance of soymilk from three soybean cultivars with special features such as high-protein and isoflavone contents, mild flavor and lipoxygenase-free compared to three conventional ones. The soymilk was obtained after blanching with a bicarbonate solution, grinding, centrifugation and pasteurization. The physicochemical and nutritional evaluation data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test to check differences among means, and the consumer data through cluster analysis and internal preference mapping. The lipoxygenases were inactivated after thermal processing. There were significant differences among soybean cultivars and soymilks related to the protein, isoflavones, oil, and sugar contents and soymilk yield (p < 0.05). The BRS 133 and BRS 284 cultivars and soymilks presented the highest total isoflavone content (p < 0.05). Regarding the overall consumer acceptance, there were significant differences among cultivars (p < 0.05) with means ranging from 5.9 to 6.7 and the lower score was obtained by BRS 267. However, the cluster analysis identified three consumer segments according to preference similarity. The cultivars BRS 284 and BRS 267 reached the highest mean among the consumers of segment 1 (6.8 and 6.7 respectively). The consumers of segment 2 preferred the cultivar without lipoxygenases, BRS 213 (mean of 7.5) while segment 3 preferred the BRS 133 (mean of 7.4). The process of blanching of soybean with bicarbonate solution, grinding with boiling water and pasteurization mitigated the differences between conventional and specialty cultivars and the six cultivars evaluated were suitable for soymilk production.

ABSTRACT Environmental influences and genetic variability can promote, within the same species, variations between plants with intrinsic traits to the seeds. This work aimed at investigating the divergence among Handroanthus serratifolius mother trees from traits related to the physiological quality of seeds. Seeds collected from 13 mother trees were submitted to tests germination, electrical conductivity (EC), cold, controlled deterioration, and accelerated aging. Five replications of 50 and 25 seeds each were used for the cold test and other tests, respectively. The average data per mother tree were submitted to cluster analysis by the methods of Ward, k-means, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The mother trees were grouped into 4 clusters by the Ward’s and K-means methods, and confirmed by the PCA, but with varying cluster compositions. Cluster 2 grouped the mother trees with lower seed quality as demonstrated by the lowest values for most of the evaluated traits, but the highest EC and the second-highest value for the germination uncertainty index. On the other hand, cluster 4 grouped the mother trees with better seed quality. Of the 22 evaluated traits, eight are probably suitable for discarding due to their little contribution to the original variability. The results of the different clustering methods indicate significant differences between the mother trees regarding the physiological quality of seeds, showing that these parameters may be used to guide breeding programs aiming to produce high-quality seeds and seedlings of H. serratifolius.

Citizens are more likely to accept reforms of welfare state arrangements if they perceive them as just and reasonable. However, the concept of social justice is multidimensional. For instance, in discourses on old-age security, justice is addressed in terms of meritocratic principles, demands, processes, redistribution, gender, or intergenerational equity. In the study "Lebensverläufe und Altersvorsorge" (LeA) [Life Courses and Old-Age Provision], respondents could express their wishes for retirement and the German statutory pension system in an open-ended question. We draw on this study to illustrate who addresses which social justice dimensions and how. Methodologically, we mixed standardized administrative and survey data with qualitative content analysis. More generally, we aim to highlight the rich analytical potential and challenges of open-ended questions. We reflect on methodological issues, e.g., the time-consuming preparation and interpretation of an enormous amount of non-standardized data, the interview situation compared to conventional qualitative interviews as well as interpretation difficulties due to missing contextual information. Furthermore, we prepared the open-ended question for quantitative analysis and integrated it into the data set while preserving its qualitative character. Finally, to illustrate options for joint analyses, we combined content analysis results with sequence/cluster analysis for longitudinal quantitative data.

Tourism is the most affected industry by the pandemic COVID-19 and will be probably also the last one to recover. International organizations UNWTO, WTTC, and others suppose that domestic tourism will play a significant role in 2020 and after. However, domestic tourism is not a universal solution for all destinations. This work aims to identify groups of countries with different potentials of domestic tourism for survival during and for recovery of tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic and their economic vulnerability. Based on the literature, the factors of tourism development were identified, and the current state of domestic tourism was considered. For the identification of the decisive factors, a correlation analysis is conducted. For cluster analysis, four main types of variables are involved: (1) economic factors (GDP, GDP per capita), (2) non-economic factors (Travel &Tourism Competitiveness Index, domestic tourism history), (3) vulnerability of the economy from the tourism point of view (share of tourism on GDP, share on employment), and (4) tourism receipts and tourism expenditures connected as the tourism balance. Based on the data from 2018 and 2019 from 41 countries, the cluster analysis identified six groups of countries with different potential of domestic tourism to support the survival of the tourism businesses and drive recovery in the post-pandemic period. El turismo es la industria más afectada por la pandemia de COVID-19 y probablemente también será la última en recuperarse. Las organizaciones internacionales OMT, WTTC y otras suponen que el turismo nacional desempeñará un papel importante en 2020 y después. Sin embargo, el turismo nacional no es una solución universal para todos los destinos. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo identificar grupos de países con diferentes potenciales de turismo interno para la supervivencia durante y para la recuperación del turismo después de la pandemia de COVID-19 y su vulnerabilidad económica. Con base en la literatura, se identificaron los factores del desarrollo turístico y se consideró el estado actual del turismo interno. Para la identificación de los factores decisivos se realiza un análisis de correlación. Para el análisis de conglomerados, se involucran cuatro tipos principales de variables: (1) factores económicos (PIB, PIB per cápita), (2) factores no económicos (índice de competitividad de viajes y turismo, historia del turismo nacional), (3) vulnerabilidad de la economía desde el punto de vista del turismo (participación del turismo en el PIB, participación en el empleo), y (4) ingresos por turismo y gastos por turismo conectados como saldo turístico. Con base en los datos de 2018 y 2019 de 41 países, el análisis de conglomerados identificó seis grupos de países con diferente potencial de turismo interno para apoyar la supervivencia de las empresas turísticas e impulsar la recuperación en el período posterior a la pandemia.

In Chile, small-scale farmers are classified according to old approaches from 1993 that do not include changes occurred in the last two decades. Maule is the region with most rural population in Chile which represents a significant stratum for development, innovation and competitiveness. This study explores a new approach of small-scale farmers -associated with Family Farm Agriculture (AFC) - classification in Chile and it describes a commercial profile or AFC-1 for famers of the Maule Region. A Cluster analysis to determine AFC-1 farmers is used. The analysis includes four association variables: Total Assets, Farm Income, Production Costs and Management Indicators. The results suggest that 16.4% of the farmers have a commercial profile and they could stay out support provided by the National Institute for Agricultural Development (INDAP). This group of farmers would not belong to AFC in short terms. This fact could bring restriction to AFC-1 farmers such as lack of credit access, less investment incentives and technical assistance. Thus, it would expect low process of technology adoption and welfare improvement. New agrarian policies must be warranted to support this important group of famers with a commercial profile.

The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity among 40 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes of different non-dormant (FD=8) cultivars. Biomass yield, regrowth speed and reaction to spring black stem, lepto leaf spot, and rust were evaluated. Analyses of variances were performed using a mixed model to examine the agronomic variation among individuals. A principal component analysis on standardized agronomic data was performed. Agronomic data were also used to calculate Gower's distance and UPGMA algorithm. For the molecular analysis, six SSR markers were evaluated and 84 alleles were identified. The genetic distance was estimated using standard Nei's distance. Average standard genetic diversity was 0.843, indicating a high degree of variability among genotypes. Finally, a generalized procrustes analysis was performed to calculate the correlation between molecular and agronomic distance, indicating a 65.4% of consensus. This value is likely related to the low number of individuals included in the study, which might have underestimated the real phenotypic variability among genotypes. Despite the low number of individuals and SSR markers analyzed, this study provides a baseline for future diversity studies to identify genetically distant alfalfa individuals or cultivars.

ABSTRACT Genetic divergence analysis and combined selection for various physical grain traits are unprecedented for common bean cultivars. The objectives of this study were to examine the genetic variability of common bean cultivars for 12 physical grain traits; study the correlations between these traits; analyze the genetic divergence; and select superior common bean cultivars. Two experiments were carried out in 2019 in which 22 common bean cultivars of different grain types were evaluated. Significant effects of genotype, grain type and genotype × environment interaction were obtained for all physical grain traits, indicating the existence of genetic variability. High correlations were observed between grain length and width (r = 0.844), normal grains and uptake (r = 0.796) and uptake and cooking time (r = -0.651). The L* (grain lightness) and a* (variation between green and red hue) values had a greater contribution to the differentiation between common bean cultivars. Four and three groups of cultivars were formed by the analyses of canonical variables and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean, respectively. Both cluster analyses are efficient in separating the cultivars into homogeneous groups based on the L* and a* values, although the canonical variables analysis provides more detailed information. The cranberry bean cultivars BRS Executivo, BRS MG Realce and Hooter and the black bean cultivars IPR Tiziu, BRS Esteio and Guapo Brilhante have superior physical grain traits and will thus be selected by the breeding program.

Introduction and Objectives: Smoking is associated with various health risks, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to determine whether smoking is harmful to the whole metabolic system., Methods: We collected data from 340 randomly selected participants who were divided into three groups: smokers (n=137), non-smokers (n=134), and ex-smokers (n=69). We obtained information on participants' body mass index, waist circumference, indicators of glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, bone metabolism, and uric acid from health screen data during the past three years. A cluster analysis was used to synthesize each participant's overall metabolic characteristics., Results: According to the cluster analysis, the 340 participants were divided into three groups: excellent metabolizers (137, 40.3%), adverse metabolizers (32, 9.4%), and intermediate metabolizers (171, 50.3%). The Chi-squared test analysis shows that people with different smoking statuses have different metabolic patterns. Non-smokers had the highest proportion of excellent metabolizers (56%), and current smokers had the highest proportion of adverse metabolizers (15.3%). The proportion of adverse metabolizers (5.8%) in the ex-smoker group was clinically relevantly lower than that of current smokers., Conclusion: The statistically significant differences in the distribution of smokers into different metabolic clusters indicate that smoking has adverse effects on the whole metabolic system of the human body, which further increases the existing global burden of metabolic disorders., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

ABSTRACT An adequate combination of factors involved in the technology used for phytosanitary product application contributes to an efficient spray deposition on the target. The objective of this study was to use multivariate analysis to characterize the magnitude of effects and the order of influence of three factors that interfere with the quality of phytosanitary product application in coffee plants. An entirely randomized design was adopted, with four repetitions, using a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with two classes of droplets quality (fine and coarse), two application rates (250 and 400 L ha-1), and the use of adjuvants (with no adjuvant or with Fighter®and Aureo® adjuvants). The quality of the application was determined by jointly analyzing the spray deposition on three thirds of leaves, in their internal and external layers, the runoff to soil, coverage, droplet density, relative amplitude, and the volumetric median diameter. The results underwent analysis of variance (ANOVA) to measure the effect sizes (η2). After testing the assumptions of multivariate analysis, clustering and principal component analyses were performed. The class of droplets was found to be the most influential factor in the quality of the phytosanitary product application (spray deposition and runoff to soil). When focusing on spray deposition on leaves, the second-most influential factor was the application rate and the relation between the application rate and the adjuvants. For the other variables, the second-most influential factor was the application rate.

Context: Curcuma longa (turmeric) is extensively cultivated as spices and herbal medicines in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Geographical origin is known to significantly determine the quality of the herbs used and, consequently, the safety and efficacy of their products. Aims: To validate and develop TLC-fingerprint combined with chemometrics to differentiate C. longa collected from various origins. Methods: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was employed together with chemometric methods, i.e., Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA), to evaluate the quality of C. longa rhizomes collected from nine origins in Indonesia. Results: Chloroform, dichloromethane, and ethanol (64:64:1) were a suitable mobile phase for C. longa. The method used met the requirements for a stable and precise TLC system. As analyzed by the chemometric techniques, the TLC-fingerprints could discriminate C. longa from various origins. The PCA score plot of the first two principal components (PCs) and CA clearly distinguished two clusters of simples. Conclusions: When combined with PCA and CA, TLC-fingerprinting can discern the rhizomes of C. longa sourcedfrom various locations. TLC-fingerprints that are analyzed with chemometrics can be used as an alternative marker-oriented method for evaluating the quality of C. longa.

Objective. Determine and characterize potential risk areas for the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Latin America (LA). Method. Ecological observational study with observation units defined by municipalities with CL transmission between 2014-2018. Environmental and socioeconomic variables available for at least 85% of the municipalities were used, combined in a single database, utilizing the R software. The principal component analysis methodology was combined with a hierarchical cluster analysis to group clusters of municipalities based on their similarity. The V-test was estimated to define the positive or negative association of the variables with the clusters and separation by natural breaks was used to determine which ones contributed the most to each cluster. Information on cases was also incorporated in the analyses to attribute CL risk for each cluster. Results. This study included 4,951 municipalities with CL transmission (36.5% of the total in LA) and seven clusters were defined by their association with 18 environmental and socioeconomic variables. The historical risk of CL is positively associated with the Amazonian, Andean and Savannah clusters in a decreasingly manner; and negatively associated with the Forest evergreen, Forest/crop and Forest/populated clusters. The Agricultural cluster did not reveal any association with the CL cases. Conclusions. The study made it possible to identify and characterize the CL risk by clusters of municipalities and to recognize the epidemiological distribution pattern of transmission, which provides managers with better information for intersectoral interventions to control CL.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to describe morphology and grouping of Paspalum notatum accessions, based on multicategorical data which discards the redundant variables for quantification of genetic diversity. We also tested the hypothesis that geographical distance was correlated with morphological divergence. In our study, multivariate analyzes successfully demonstrated the geographic and morphological variability of the P. notatum accessions characterized. Many of these evaluated accessions can be included in future genetic improvement programs. Based on two methodologies for discarding variables, it was possible to identify the potentially important morphological characteristics from genetic diversity studies and characterize new accessions aimed at improving forage and seed production. The methodologies used to discard variables are biometric tools that can be used successfully in future plant breeding programs, especially when a large number of traits and accessions are being evaluated. Although significant, geographic distance had a low association with morphological traits. This indicated the need to use other characteristics, such as forage and seed yield, in addition to molecular analysis. Our analyzes showed genetic variability in P. notatum for all the characteristics studied.

ABSTRACT The effects of dietary digestible protein (DP) levels (22, 26, 29, 32, and 34%) and different stressors (cold-induced stress, CIS; heat/dissolved oxygen-induced stress, HDOIS; transport-induced stress, TIS; and size-sorting-induced stress, SSIS) on hemato-biochemical parameters were evaluated. Four hundred and forty Nile tilapia fingerlings were distributed into 40-250 L aquaria and fed experimental diets for 110 days, and fed each of the five experimental diets, that were randomly distributed to eight replicates per treatment. Then, different groups of fish were subjected to one type of stress. Groups of 40 fish were used on CIS (17 °C), HDOIS (32 °C), and TIS (4 h), and a group of 140 fish on SSIS (15 min air exposure and 60 s handling). There was no effect on hemato-biochemical profile when DP levels were compared, neither before nor after stress; however, there was a significant stress effect. Digestible protein did not mitigate stress response under SSIS and CIS; lymphopenia and neutrophilia were the main cell-mediated immune response; dietary 22 and 26% DP impaired oxygenation on SSIS and TIS; fish under HDOIS and SSIS demanded more energy using triglycerides as an energy source; the diet formulated to contain 22% DP was not adequate to keep homeostasis under temperature stress. Cluster analysis showed that, for DP levels below the requirement for growth, SSIS and CIS were considered the most stressful conditions. At 34% DP level, HDOIS response was comparable to that of non-stressing conditions.

Abstract The characterization of banana cultivars is an important stage, which allows the identification of materials adapted to a particular region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance in the edaphoclimatic conditions of the geographic microregion of Assis, State of São Paulo, during the first three production cycles. The experiment was installed at São José Farm, Palmital, SP, where ten banana cultivars (Grande Naine, IAC 2001, FHIA 02, Bucaneiro, FHIA 17, Calypso, Ambrosia, Thap Maeo, BRS Princesa and Caipira) were evaluated during the three production cycles. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates, each plot with 8.75 m2 and 5 plants per plot. The evaluated variables were plant height, pseudostem perimeter, number of leaves at flowering and harvesting, bunch mass, number of hands per bunch, fruit and pulp yield. Results were submitted to analysis of variance, means comparison tests and multivariate clustering or tree clustering analysis. ‘Grande Naine’ and ‘IAC 2001’ cultivars, as well as those of the Cavendish subgroup, are the most suitable for cultivation in the geographic microregion of Assis, SP, considering production performance in the evaluated production cycles.

Due to a deeper understanding by consumers of the environmental challenge, during the last two decades there has been exponential growth in research on sustainable consumption (SC), especially in developed countries. Most of the studies related to this topic focused on exploring, profiling or modelling the phenomenon have primarily been performed in these regions. However, in emerging markets consumers are concerned about sustainability so research must include them in its scope. Therefore, this research focuses on the young adult population of Mexico City to explore SC behavior patterns and associated segmentation criteria. The study relies on cluster analysis using the K-means method, derived from a quantitative survey of 248 subjects aged 20 to 34 who live in Mexico City. Clusters help to identify five groups of SC patterns, based on four SC key factors: culture, public policies, socio-environmental concern, and sustainable marketing associated with five types of SC: purchase of sustainable products, preference for alternative channels, non-monetary sustainable practices, collaborative consumption and sustainable transportation. The value of this exploratory study involves the provision of new information on characteristics to establish distinct groups of consumers based on SC among young adults in Mexico City.

Commencing with the definition of school moral atmosphere, this essay presents first results of an empirical research which aims to investigate the attitudes of aspiring, in-training, and in-service teachers. The study was conducted by means of a questionnaire entitled, Che cosa è bene, che cosa è male. La scuola e la sfida dell’educazione morale, which involved 763 participants. These included 224 aspirating teachers who participated in pre-F.I.T. training programs at the Universities of Parma and Sassari, 397 in-training teachers who underwent training in Special Needs Education at the Universities of Messina and Parma, and 142 in-service teachers from the provinces of Messina, Reggio Emilia and Parma. Data analyses were conducted through factorial and cluster analyses. Results of the cluster analyses revealed three different attitudes of teachers: first, one generally institutional, a second, more undecided in nature, and a third, which was mostly communicative in nature.

ABSTRACT The characterization of genetic diversity in common bean genotypes for various agronomic traits enables the selection of promising parents and the identification of genotypes with high agronomic performance. The present study proposes to evaluate the genetic diversity of common bean landraces and cultivars for 14 agronomic traits; examine the correlations between these traits; define promising crosses; and select genotypes with high agronomic performance. A total of 49 common bean genotypes were evaluated in three growing seasons, consisting of 37 landraces and 12 common bean cultivars. Significant effects of genotype × environment interaction or genotype were observed for all agronomic traits, thereby allowing the study of genetic divergence. Several plant-architecture traits were correlated with each other, whereas grain yield was highly correlated with insertion of the last pod (r = 0.74), number of pods per plant (r = 0.74) and mass of 100 grains (r =-0.64). The furthest-neighbor method separated the common bean genotypes into two groups, Mesoamerican and Andean, and mass of 100 grains showed the greatest contribution to the differentiation between the genotypes. Tocher's method was more informative and divided the common bean genotypes into 12 groups. The following crosses are recommended: Vagem Roxa × IPR Juriti, Vagem Roxa × Macanudo, Fepagro Triunfo × IPR Juriti, Fepagro Triunfo × Macanudo, Guapo Brilhante × IPR Juriti, and Guapo Brilhante × Macanudo. The common bean genotypes Fepagro Triunfo, IPR Juriti, Guapo Brilhante, BRS Campeiro and Vagem Roxa have high agronomic performance and should thus be selected by the breeding program.

This study employed multivariate analysis techniques to identify and evaluate the chemical variables responsible for the contamination of the urban area of Boquira, Bahia, due to the abandonment of the tailings basin of Pb-Zn mining, in order to assist in the environmental management of the area. Factor analysis was performed on main and grouping components. The factor analysis allowed grouping the variables into two main factors for street sediment samples, adding up to 72% of the total accumulated variance, and three factors for house dust samples, which explained 77% of the total variance. The variables have a strong correlation with the composition of the tailings basin. Cluster analysis classified the samples according to the concentration of metals in the area, where the influence of the tailings basin and the natural background of the region's rocks in the contamination distribution can be identified.

ABSTRACT The melon (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the most important horticultural crops in the northeast of Brazil. The characterisation of germplasm is an efficient process for managing plant genetic resources, as it contributes to better conservation and improved use in breeding programs. In the present study, the genetic divergence between sub-accessions of the melon taken from traditional agriculture in the semi-arid region of Brazil was evaluated using ISSR and RAPD markers, verifying the level of agreement with the botanical classification. Twenty-six sub-accessions preserved in the Active Germplasm Bank of Cucurbitaceae for the northeast of Brazil, located at Embrapa Semiárido in Petrolina, Pernambuco, were analysed. The binary matrix of the molecular data was used to obtain the genetic dissimilarities using the complement of the Jaccard index. The genetic dissimilarities were represented in dendrograms generated using the UPGMA method. Twenty-eight ISSR primers and 26 RAPD primers were polymorphic. A total of 686 fragments were obtained, of which 451 were polymorphic. The mean polymorphism of the RAPD markers was greater than that of the ISSR markers. The number of markers was considered sufficient to accurately determine the genetic diversity. The ISSR dendrogram allowed the formation of three groups, the RAPD dendrogram, four groups, and the joint dendrogram, three groups. The study demonstrated the genetic variability between the sub-accessions, and the strong association between the characterisation made by the molecular markers and the taxonomic classification of the genotypes under study.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the perceptions of professionals in relation to the importance of indicators used to assess the sustainability of Brazilian dairy cattle. A survey method was used through a questionnaire. The target audience was professionals related to dairy cattle: researchers, professors, consultants, farmers, and other professionals. The total number of respondents to the survey was 347. Cluster analysis resulted in the formation of four distinct groups: G1 (“Holistic”), participants agreed that all indicators are very important or, at least, important; G2 (“Technician”) considered the indicators important and desirable, except for some environmental indicators which were assessed as non-priority and expendable; G3 (“Socio-environmentalist”) assessed the indicators as desirable, but environmental indicators received more importance; and G4 (“Skeptic”) generally believed that indicators were non-priority and expendable. The groups showed significant differences in relation to knowledge about technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects of dairy cattle. More than 60% of professionals consider milk production per area, reproductive index, production costs, profit from the activity, milk quality, quality of life of the producer and employees, succession, protection of water courses, and soil management as very important indicators of the sustainability of dairy cattle. On the other hand, important environmental indicators such as emissions of gases and substances, energy use, nutrient balance, and land use were neglected by most respondents. These results can help select and implement policies and strategies for decision making, aiming at producing milk in a more sustainable way.

Este trabajo tiene el propósito de establecer cuáles factores permiten explicar las diferencias departamentales en materia de protección de derechos de autor y nuevas creaciones en Colombia, en el 2017. Para esto se usaron los datos disponibles en la Dirección Nacional de Derechos de Autor y el Observatorio Colombiano de Ciencia y Tecnología. A estos se aplicó una técnica de aprendizaje no supervisado (análisis de conglomerados) y otra de estadística no paramétrica (correlación de Spearman). Entre los principales hallazgos se encuentra la identificación de 12 agrupaciones espaciales en Colombia que explican el 95,22% de la variabilidad. De igual forma, se identificó que las variables con más variabilidad dentro del territorio nacional fueron: registro de fonogramas, de obra artística, de contratos, de obra audiovisual y de obra literaria editada; graduados de maestría y doctorado; solicitud y concesión de diseños industriales; producción bibliográfica y solicitud de patentes de invención. This paper aims to establish the factors that explain the departmental differences in copyright protection and new creations in Colombia in 2017. For this purpose, we use the data available at the Dirección Nacional de Derechos de Autor and Observatorio Colombiano de Ciencia y Tecnología. We applied a technique of unsupervised learning (cluster analysis) and a non-parametric statistics (Spearman correlation). Among the main findings is the identification of 12 spatial cluster in Colombia that explain 95.22% of the variability. Likewise, it was identified that the variables with more variability within the national territory were: register of phonograms, artistic piece, contracts, audiovisual piece, and literary; master’s and doctoral graduates; industrial design applications; bibliographic production and patent applications.

ABSTRACT Regionalization is an important technique for estimating the flow of hydrographic sections with a lack of data. First, it is necessary to identify hydrologically homogeneous regions (HHRs), which are commonly validated via statistical analyses. Because this step is understood to be subjective, studies that contribute to a greater reliability in identifying regions are needed. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the inclusion of a physical analysis of the average regionalized flow rates as an aid to identify HHRs. The groupings were defined on the basis of geographical convenience methods and cluster analysis. For the assessment of regionalized flows, six statistical indices were used with a physical analysis that was performed via a comparison of the runoff coefficient to the spatial distribution of precipitation values. It was concluded that the physical analysis reduced the subjectivity in the identification of HHRs.

The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the variables responsible for contributing to possible natural and/or human contamination in groundwater of the semiarid region of the state of Bahia, seeking to subsidize water quality monitoring and management actions in the area. To do so, multivariate analysis techniques regarding factorial analysis in principal components and cluster analysis were used. The factorial analysis allowed the grouping of variables into two principal factors that explained 93% of total accumulated variance. Variables were strongly related to concentrations of metals and salinity in the water. The cluster analysis was used to classify water sources according to the quality of waters into three clusters in each factor. The natural background of the rocks of the municipality of Boquira was shown to influence water resources. A continuous (during dry and rainy seasons) monitoring of water quality from wells and springs located upstream and downstream from contamination sources is recommended, even if these waters are not used for public supply, to determine possible contamination plumes from contaminated material.

Pumpkin is a genus of plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family comprising several species, the most common of which are Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita moschata. Pumpkins are characterized by a high content of carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, mineral components, and vitamin C. The level of bioactive compounds is affected by the pumpkin cultivar, which determines its antioxidant properties. In this study, the antioxidant potential of 19 pumpkin cultivars of Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata species was determined and compared using ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, chelating activity and ORAC assay. Results of the study confirmed the high diversity of pumpkin cultivars in terms of their antioxidant activity. It was also shown that the antioxidant activity is more affected by the type of cultivar than by the pumpkin species. The obtained results indicate that cultivars such as ‘Delicata’, ‘Baby Boo’, ‘Cream of the Crop’ were characterized by particularly high antioxidant activity.

Research on emotional intelligence (EI) and its relationship with motivational and health factors in educational contexts is scarce. The objectives of this study were three: (a) to explore emotional intelligence profiles of adolescents; (b) to examine how these profiles relate to different types of motivation, basic psychological needs, friendship goals, subjective well-being, and intentions to be physically active; and (c) to analyze how these emotional profiles evolve during a full year in physical education contexts. It is a longitudinal study with three measurement occasions. Participants were 282 students (151 boys and 131 girls) from six high schools (Mage = 13.03, SD = 0.93). Hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis were performed, three inter-group MANOVAs (one for each time) and one 2 x 3 (group x time) MANOVA to explore longitudinal changes. Two EI clusters emerged: high EI (n = 168) and low EI (n = 114). Significant effects were found for the group in the three MANOVAs. The high EI cluster was more adaptive, self-determined, with greater psychosocial adjustment, subjective well-being, and intentions to be physically active.

As the earth atmosphere warms, it is unclear how the precipitation will change or how these changes will impact regional rainfall. For the study of spatial and temporal variability of rainfall, several indexes have been developed. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) that only involves recorded rainfall data has been used as a tool for climatic zone classification and a drought indicator. Then, the aims of the present study were: 1) to cluster monthly precipitation time series into groups that represent regions under the basis of similar precipitation regimes, 2) to compute regional SPI’s using all the members (time series) of each cluster, and 3) to estimate trends of the regional SPI’s. The cluster analysis approach was used to identify four groups of monthly precipitation time series that represent regions of similar precipitation regimes. Afterwards, regional SPI’s were estimated using all the members of each cluster. Finally, four regional SPI trends were estimated by means of the Mann-Kendall trend test and Sen’s slope estimator. Estimated decreasing SPI trends imply prevail of negative values at the end of the study period (1964-2014), which indicate less than median precipitation in the entire Zacatecas state territory. For instance, SPI at 12-month time scale Sen’s slope values were -0.17 and -0.18 for the wet and dry seasons, respectively in the Semi-desert region. Thus, the evidenced trends may be having influence on the availability of surface water, groundwater levels and aquifers recharge in the near future. So, it is imperative to adjust inhabitants’ activities according to design planned climate change adaptation strategies.

This study shows the development of patterns of temporal hourly volume distributions in an urban area in Costa Rica, based on a cluster analysis of pedestrian data. This study aims to establish specific pattern groups for the temporal variation of weekday pedestrian volumes applying cluster analysis in the central business district of Guadalupe in San José. For 46 counting sites, vectors with the weekday hourly factors, the proportion of the daily pedestrian traffic, were estimated. A hierarchical cluster method was implemented to group the vectors of hourly factors from the different counting sites. This method groups elements by minimizing the Euclidean distance between elements of the same group and, at the same time, maximizing the distances from elements of other groups. In addition, the groups found through this analysis are related to land use through buffers of different radios. Eight temporal pattern groups were obtained through cluster analysis. Two pattern groups account for more than two-thirds of the sites included in the study. Fisher’s exact independence test shows that banks and public services could explain some of the patterns observed. The classification of 46 counting sites based on temporal distribution patterns, and the relation with the establishments in the area, allows a simplification of the information and facilitates an understanding of the pedestrian mobility in the area. Further research is required that leads towards geographical elements that could explain the differences in temporal and mobility patterns.

Helping people adopt behaviors to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions is central to Extension’s mission. This new publication describes cluster analysis, a quantitative technique that can be used to identify audience subgroups so that tailored education and communications can be designed, and conveys its value in supporting behavior change to help readers understand how this technique is applied and encourage others to consider using it. Written by Laura A. Warner; 5 pp. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc399

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate 94 Paspalum notatum genotypes over two growing seasons to estimate genetic dissimilarity through agronomic traits and the distance between genotypes. This information is used to create an ideotype from the best averages obtained for the set of characteristics evaluated. Seven apomitic, three sexual, and 81 hybrid genotypes were compared with native genotypes “André da Rocha”, “Bagual”, and cultivar “Pensacola” as controls. There is genetic variability in P. notatum for the studied characteristics, and distinct genotypes with superior characteristics can be used in new combinations between apomictic and sexual plants to obtain hybrids. The characters with the greatest relative contribution to the dissimilarity between the genotypes were tiller density, stem dry mass, and leaf dry mass yield. Thus, these characteristics are suitable criteria to infer genetic distance studies in P. notatum . The selection index based on the ideotype is an auxiliary tool in the breeding process. The ideotype must be based on characteristics of interest according to the objective of the breeding program, as well as on the breeder’s prior knowledge in relation to culture.

Introduction: Although COPD may frequently co-exist with bronchiectasis [COPD-bronchiectasis associated (CBA)], little is known regarding the clinical heterogeneity. We aimed to identify the phenotypes and compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CBA., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 2928 bronchiectasis patients, 5158 COPD patients, and 1219 patients with CBA hospitalized between July 2017 and December 2020. We phenotyped CBA with a two-step clustering approach and validated in an independent retrospective cohort with decision-tree algorithms., Results: Compared with patients with COPD or bronchiectasis alone, patients with CBA had significantly longer disease duration, greater lung function impairment, and increased use of intravenous antibiotics during hospitalization. We identified five clusters of CBA. Cluster 1 (N=120, CBA-MS) had predominantly moderate-severe bronchiectasis, Cluster 2 (N=108, CBA-FH) was characterized by frequent hospitalization within the previous year, Cluster 3 (N=163, CBA-BI) had bacterial infection, Cluster 4 (N=143, CBA-NB) had infrequent hospitalization but no bacterial infection, and Cluster 5 (N=113, CBA-NHB) had no hospitalization or bacterial infection in the past year. The decision-tree model predicted the cluster assignment in the validation cohort with 91.8% accuracy. CBA-MS, CBA-BI, and CBA-FH exhibited higher risks of hospital re-admission and intensive care unit admission compared with CBA-NHB during follow-up (all P<0.05). Of the five clusters, CBA-FH conferred the worst clinical prognosis., Conclusion: Bronchiectasis severity, recent hospitalizations and sputum culture findings are three defining variables accounting for most heterogeneity of CBA, the characterization of which will help refine personalized clinical management., (Copyright © 2024 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

This paper empirically investigates the effect of exchange rate uncertainty on cereals export flows for a broad sample of 75 countries during the 2010/01 - 2016/12 period. To do this, we first estimate the exchange rate volatility, and then, we estimate the cereals export demand by using a panel data model with autoregressive vectors (P-VAR). This strategy of analysis is applied over different groups of countries, which are obtained by cluster analysis based on the level of exchange rate volatility and the volume of cereals exports. The empirical results suggest a significant negative effect of exchange rate uncertainty on cereals exports in countries characterized by high and persistent exchange rate volatility or high volume of cereals exports.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to characterize 24 representative sheep production farms from five mesoregions in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil, so that economic and productive improvement strategies could be proposed. The representative farms for each region were defined at meetings with sheep farmers and technicians via the rapid appraisal methodology and represent 65% of the state’s flock. The information of each representative farm was collected between March 2015 and February 2016. Principal component analysis was used to verify the relationships among the different variables that characterized the farms. These characteristics were: number of ewes (V1), total cost per kilogram of revenue-generating product (V2), feeding costs (V3), labor costs (V4), facility and equipment depreciation costs (V5), and gross margin in the production cycle (V6). Cluster analysis was performed, resulting in three distinct groups: one including eight, another seven, and the third, nine farms. The results aided in classifying the farms into groups with similar characteristics, such as production scale, reproductive efficiency, technical and managerial control, appreciation of cooperatives, and availability of continuous technical assistance. The production scale, reproductive and productive efficiency, adoption of technologies, and cooperative organizational structure can be emphasized as positive performance benchmarks and were the most important aspects to achieve positive economic results.

Studies on the probability of rainfall and its spatiotemporal variations are important for the planning of water resources and optimization of the calendar of agricultural activities. This study identifies the occurrence of rain by first-order Markov Chain (MC) and by two states in the Tapajos River Basin (TRB), Amazon, Brazil. Cluster analysis (CA), based on the Ward method, was used to classify homogeneous regions and select samples for checking the probability of rainfall occurrence by season. The historical series of daily rainfall data of 80 stations were used for the period 1990-2014. The CA technique identified 8 homogeneous regions and their probability of occurrence of rainfall, helping to determine which regions and periods have greater need of irrigation. Results of the probability of occurrence of dry and rainy periods in the TRB were used to define the dry (May thru September) and rainy seasons (October thru April). Elements of the matrix transition probabilities showed variability in relation to time and, in addition, the influence of geographical position of seasonal rainfall in determining dry and rainy periods at specific sites in the TRB.

Resumo Este artigo tem como objetivo mapear padrões de atuação dos países nas Cadeias Globais de Valor (CGV) e os respectivos ganhos, identificando-se sob quais circunstâncias tal atuação foi acompanhada de mudança estrutural. Os padrões de atuação referem-se à inserção dos países nas CGV e possíveis evoluções por meio dos diferentes tipos de upgrading. O mapeamento foi feito com uma amostra de 40 países entre 1995 e 2008, utilizando-se 12 indicadores que captaram características inerentes à participação neste processo. Em função da quantidade de informação, foi utilizada a análise de clusters, que associada a outros critérios analíticos, permitiu identificar seis padrões de inserção e upgrading dos países nas cadeias globais relacionados ao potencial de mudança estrutural. Verificou-se que a intensidade da mudança estrutural associa-se a padrões específicos de atuação nas cadeias referentes ao upgrading funcional e de cadeia, sendo que por este último, a mudança estrutural ocorrendo apenas em países situados em estágios produtivos iniciais.

In this paper we describe four new fossil associations of “reef” and “reef”-like environments of the St. Cassian Formation (Ladinian-Carnian, Dolomites, NE Italy), based on thirty thin sections from 10 “Cipit boulders” olistoliths, which slided from the Cassian platform into coeval basin sediments. The fossil associations were determined by means of microfacies analysis using point-counting and visual estimation, as well as with aid of statistical methods, based on all fractions with a biotic significance (biomorpha and microbialites). Cluster Analyses in Q-Mode were performed, coupling three algorithms and two indices. In all samples, the main components of the framework are microbialite (average of 75%), and macrofossils (average of 20%), whereas cements and allochtonous components, such as allomicrite, do not represent a significant fraction. Based on both microbialite and fossil content, Chaetetid–microencruster Association, Microbialite–microencruster Association, Dual-type Microbialite Association and Microbialite–Terebella Association, were differentiated. The palaeoenvironmental settings where the associations come from are separately discussed. Microencrusters helped determine energy and luminosity settings. Microencruster abundance and diversity, in addition to the conspicuousness of microbialite, indicate that all associations come either from a deep, or from a cryptic setting.

The Internet’s role in global market development merits more extensive research, which is especially true for Spain’s tourism industry because of its contribution to the national economy. The Web’s intangible nature also makes it the most effective distribution channel. To help companies differentiate their websites, this study tested a model of purchase intention that includes its determinants. Cluster analysis of a representative sample was conducted to sort potential and current consumers of online travel services into groups based on their perceptions of the model’s factors. While young consumers see purchasing tourismrelated services on the Internet as easy and cost-effective, the opposite results were obtained for the elderly. However, the perceived risks are considered important by most individuals. To maximise the benefits of e-commerce, companies must develop strategies that meet each type of client’s expectations

Abstract: The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters for traits related to resistance to endoparasites in Santa Inês sheep, for a possible inclusion in sheep breeding programs, as well as to evaluate the additive genetic pattern of the animals using cluster analyzes, in order to assess whether there are groups within the population that can be used as candidates for selection for resistance to endoparasites. The studied traits were: Famacha score, fecal egg counts (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein (TPP), body condition score (BCS), and body weight (BW). Heritability estimates ranged from 0.17 (0.05) for TPP to 0.31 (0.07) for BCS. The cluster analyzes based on the breeding values identified four clusters. Famacha and BCS can be recommended as selection criteria for resistance to hematophagous endoparasites because they can respond to selection and are easy to be measured. Animals from cluster 1 have great potential as candidates for selection because of their additive genetic pattern, taking into account body weight and endoparasite resistance due to higher breeding values for BW, BCS, PCV, and TPP and lower breeding values for Famacha and FEC.

Since the growing interest in the study of the dynamics of tourism and its implications for economic growth, this paper explores the Latin America and the Caribbean case. From the economic regimes’ conception and time series symbolization, we perform a cluster analysis and a posterior causality relationship estimation between economic growth and tourism performance for 22 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean considering the period between 1995 and 2015. Results show the existence of two clusters of countries with similar dynamic behaviour within them. The estimations show a positive causal and unidirectional relationship from economic growth to the tourism industry in the low-performing tourism cluster, and also a positive and bidirectional causal relationship in the high-performing tourism one. JEL codes: C33; C36; Z32.

Purpose: For the stability of the organizational environment, corporate governance has become an indispensable condition. By adopting corporate governance codes, companies seek to compete differently in the market, valuing transparency as a guiding principle of relationships established in the various business segments. This article aims to compare the characteristics of corporate governance codes adopted by Latin American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, through the set of practices recommended by the UN. Originality/value: The article studies the adoption of corporate governance codes adopted by Latin American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. Design/methodology/approach: This is a qualitative and quantitative descriptive study. The data were analyzed in-depth using content analysis techniques and complemented by hierarchical cluster analysis, with the Ward method, using the Jaccard and the Russell and Rao methods. Findings: It was found that the corporate governance codes issued by Brazil, Colombia and Argentina converge with the UN guide. While the corporate governance code issued by Peru partially converges. The observed convergence suggests a concern with the demands of international investors. Finally, it was found that the corporate governance codes issued by Chile and Mexico have low convergence with the UN guide. This represents the lowest level of convergence between the countries investigated, indicating a greater concern with the local context than with international standards. / Objetivo: Para a estabilidade do ambiente organizacional, a adoção de códigos de governança corporativa tornou-se uma importante condição para a estabilidade do ambiente organizacional por valorizar a transparência como princípio norteador das relações estabelecidas nos diversos segmentos de negócios e possibilitar a competição de forma diferenciada. Nesse sentido, este artigo tem o objetivo de comparar, com base em um conjunto de práticas recomendadas pela ONU, as características dos códigos de governança corporativa adotados na América Latina por Brasil, México, Argentina, Colômbia, Chile e Peru. Originalidade/valor: O artigo estuda a adoção de códigos de governança corporativa adotados pelos países latino-americanos, pouco explorados sobre o tema de forma integrada. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Trata-se de estudo descritivo qualita tivo e quantitativo com análise em profundidade pelo uso de técnicas de análise de conteúdo, complementada pela análise hierárquica de clusters, por meio do método Ward, em que se utilizam medidas de similaridade de Jaccard e de Russell e Rao. Resultados: Verificou-se que os códigos de governança corporativa emitidos pelo Brasil, pela Colômbia e pela Argentina convergem com o guia da ONU, enquanto o do Peru converge parcialmente. A convergência observada sugere uma preocupação com o alinhamento às demandas dos investidores internacionais. Por fim, constatou-se que os códigos de governança corporativa emitidos pelo Chile e México têm baixa convergência com o guia da ONU, sugerindo maior preocupação intrarregional do que com o alinhamento a padrões internacionais, o que pode levar a uma maior dificuldade na atração de investimento direto ou não.

Context: in recent years, cluster analysis has stimulated researchers to explore new ways to understand data behavior. The computational ease of this method and its ability to generate consistent outputs, even in small datasets, explain that to some extent. However, researchers are often mistaken in holding that clustering is a terrain in which anything goes. The literature shows the opposite: they must be careful, especially regarding the effect of outliers on cluster formation. Objective: in this tutorial paper, we contribute to this discussion by presenting four clustering techniques and their respective advantages and disadvantages in the treatment of outliers. Methods: for that, we worked from a managerial dataset and analyzed it using k-means, PAM, DBSCAN, and FCM techniques. Results: our analyzes indicate that researchers have distinct clustering techniques for dealing with outliers accordingly. Conclusion: we concluded that researchers need to have a more diversified repertoire of clustering techniques. After all, this would give them two relevant empirical alternatives: choose the most appropriate technique for their research objectives or adopt a multi-method approach.

The delineation of management zones is based on the spatial behavior of a few soil variables selected and evaluated previously, and usually not correlated in situ with yield. Since the soil-plant system is multivariate, the analysis of its complexity requires statistical tools of equal size. These tools are convenient in providing an intuitive interpretation of the relationship between variables and the ordering of sampling sites. This study aims at the identification of management zones in a banana agroecosystem, starting from the overall analysis of soil variables with crop performance components, using multivariate statistical tools. Three clusters of sites were identified based on soil variables, dry mean weight diameter, pH, and (Ca+Mg)/K ratio, all correlated with crop yield. The groupings allowed to delineate management zones whose production has a uniform spatial behavior, significantly different between zones (P < 0.01)

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify high-risk areas of leprosy in Brazil from 2001 to 2015. Methods: this is an ecological study of spatial analysis based on Brazilian municipalities. Spatial scan statistics were used to identify spatial clustering and measure the relative risk from the annual detection rate of new cases of leprosy. By criterion based on the Gini index, only secondary clusters were considered. Results: spatial scan statistics detected 26 clusters, in which the detection rate was 59.19 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, while in the remainder of the country it was 11.76. Large part of the cluster area is located in the Legal Amazon. These groups included only 21.34% of the total population, but 60.40% of the new cases of the disease. Conclusions: Leprosy remains concentrated in some areas, showing the need for control programs to intensify actions in these municipalities.

Abstract We studied the extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and the evaluation of antioxidant activity of strawberries in different extraction conditions, varying the type of solvent (ethanol:water (50%) and acetone:water (60%), the extraction time (15 and 60 min) and the solvent volume to sample mass ratio (5 mL/g and 20 mL/g). In addition, we performed principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that, although the two solvents tested had similar influence on total phenolic compounds extraction and antioxidant activity, the 60 minutes of extraction and the use of the solvent volume/sample mass ratio of 20 mL/g were the best extraction conditions, both for the 1st and 2nd recovered extracts. However, the solvent had a marked effect on anthocyanins’ extraction, so that acetone/water extracted almost the double as compared to ethanol/water, for the same extraction conditions. Finally, factor analysis allowed identifying a grouping structure of two components, which was confirmed by the dendogram obtained from cluster analysis.