Using Genetic Algorithms for Automatic Recurrent ANN Development: an Application to EEG Signal Classification

[Abstract] ANNs are one of the most successful learning systems. For this reason, many techniques have been published that allow the obtaining of feed-forward networks. However, fe w works describe techniques for developing recurrent networks. This work uses a genetic algorithm for automatic recurrent ANN devel opment. This system has been applied to solve a well-known problem: classi fication of EEG signals from epileptic patients. Results show the high performance of this system, and its ability to develop simple networks, with a low number of neurons and connections.Red Gallega de Investigación sobre Cáncer Colorrectal; ref. 2009/58Programa Ibeoramericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo; 209RT0366Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio; TSI-020110-2009-53Xunta de Galicia; 10SIN105004PRInstituto de Salud Carlos III; PIO52048Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RD07/0067/000

Leaching of Cu, Zn, and Pb from sulfidic tailings under the use of sulfuric acid and chloride solutions

The imbalance between raw materials of high economic importance and their supply has increased the search for new approaches to obtain valuable elements from mining tailings. In this study, the extraction of copper, zinc, and lead from sulfidic tailing in sulfate–chloride media was investigated. A 3 3 Box–Behnken design was applied to evaluate three variables over a 4-h testing period: sulfuric acid concentration (0.01–1.0 mol/L H 2 SO 4 ), sodium chloride (10–60 g/L NaCl), and temperature (20–70 °C). The design showed two optimum working regions: a combination of a high NaCl level, low H2SO4 level, and medium temperature level for lead leaching, while for copper and zinc, a combination of a medium–high H 2 SO 4 level and a high temperature level. The concentration of NaCl had only a slight impact on their leaching. Based on these results, two-stage leaching was performed. The first stage was carried out under an experimental condition that favored the leaching of lead (60 g/L NaCl, 0.01 mol/L H 2 SO 4 , 45 °C, 1 h, 10:1 liquid-to-solid ratio), whereas the second stage maximized the leaching of copper and zinc (60 g/L NaCl, 0.5 mol/L H2SO4, 70 °C, 24 h, 10:1 liquid-to-solid ratio). The global leaching rate was 66.8 ± 3.0% copper, 84.1 ± 5.2% zinc, and 93.9 ± 3.2% lead. The iron and arsenic content were also leached by about 20 and 50% at the end of the second stage. The study demonstrated that the use of sulfate–chloride media in a two-stage leaching considerably improved the extraction of the desired metals and was, therefore, suitable for their recovery

Applied Computational Techniques on Schizophrenia Using Genetic Mutations

[Abstract] Schizophrenia is a complex disease, with both genetic and environmental influence. Machine learning techniques can be used to associate different genetic variations at different genes with a (schizophrenic or non-schizophrenic) phenotype. Several machine learning techniques were applied to schizophrenia data to obtain the results presented in this study. Considering these data, Quantitative Genotype – Disease Relationships (QDGRs) can be used for disease prediction. One of the best machine learning-based models obtained after this exhaustive comparative study was implemented online; this model is an artificial neural network (ANN). Thus, the tool offers the possibility to introduce Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) sequences in order to classify a patient with schizophrenia. Besides this comparative study, a method for variable selection, based on ANNs and evolutionary computation (EC), is also presented. This method uses half the number of variables as the original ANN and the variables obtained are among those found in other publications. In the future, QDGR models based on nucleic acid information could be expanded to other diseases.Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo; 209RT-0366Xunta de Galicia; 10SIN105004PRInstituto de Salud Carlos III; RD07/0067/0005Xunta de Galicia; Ref. 2009/5

Signatures of Classical Periodic Orbits on a Smooth Quantum System

Gutzwiller's trace formula and Bogomolny's formula are applied to a non--specific, non--scalable Hamiltonian system, a two--dimensional anharmonic oscillator. These semiclassical theories reproduce well the exact quantal results over a large spatial and energy range.Comment: 12 pages, uuencoded postscript file (1526 kb

Information theoretic evaluation of a noiseband-based cochlear implant simulator

Noise-band vocoders are often used to simulate the signal processing algorithms used in cochlear implants (CIs), producing acoustic stimuli that may be presented to normal hearing (NH) subjects. Such evaluations may obviate the heterogeneity of CI user populations, achieving greater experimental control than when testing on CI subjects. However, it remains an open question whether advancements in algorithms developed on NH subjects using a simulator will necessarily improve performance in CI users. This study assessed the similarity in vowel identification of CI subjects and NH subjects using an 8-channel noise-band vocoder simulator configured to match input and output frequencies or to mimic output after a basalward shift of input frequencies. Under each stimulus condition, NH subjects performed the task both with and without feedback/training. Similarity of NH subjects to CI users was evaluated using correct identification rates and information theoretic approaches. Feedback/training produced higher rates of correct identification, as expected, but also resulted in error patterns that were closer to those of the CI users. Further evaluation remains necessary to determine how patterns of confusion at the token level are affected by the various parameters in CI simulators, providing insight into how a true CI simulation may be developed to facilitate more rapid prototyping and testing of novel CI signal processing and electrical stimulation strategies

Drilling tool geometry evaluation for reinforced composite laminates

In this work, a comparative study on different drill point geometries and feed rate for composite laminates drilling is presented. For this goal, thrust force monitoring during drilling, hole wall roughness measurement and delamination extension assessment after drilling is accomplished. Delamination is evaluated using enhanced radiography combined with a dedicated computational platform that integrates algorithms of image processing and analysis. An experimental procedure was planned and consequences were evaluated. Results show that a cautious combination of the factors involved, like drill tip geometry or feed rate, can promote the reduction of delamination damage

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis after Pemetrexed and Cisplatin for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Patient with Sharp Syndrome

Background: Pemetrexed is an antifolate drug approved for maintenance and second-line therapy, and, in combination with cisplatin, for first-line treatment of advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. The side-effect profile includes fatigue, hematological and gastrointestinal toxicity, an increase in hepatic enzymes, sensory neuropathy, and pulmonary and cutaneous toxicity in various degrees. Case Report: We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with history of Sharp's syndrome and adenocarcinoma of the lung, who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis after the first cycle of pemetrexed, including erythema, bullae, extensive skin denudation, subsequent systemic inflammation and severe deterioration in general condition. The generalized skin lesions occurred primarily in the previous radiation field and responded to immunosuppressive treatment with prednisone. Conclusion: Although skin toxicity is a well-known side effect of pemetrexed, severe skin reactions after pemetrexed administration are rare. Caution should be applied in cases in which pemetrexed is given subsequent to radiation therapy, especially in patients with pre-existing skin diseases

ICN as Network Infrastructure for Multi-Sensory Devices: Local Domain Service Discovery for ICN-based IoT Environments

Information Centric Networking (ICN) is an emerging research topic aiming at shifting the Internet from its current host-centric paradigm towards an approach centred around content, which enables the direct retrieval of information objects in a secure, reliable, scalable, and efficient way. The exposure of ICN to scenarios other than static content distribution is a growing research topic, promising to extend the impact of ICN to a broader scale. In this context, particular attention has been given to the application of ICN in Internet of Things (IoT) environments. The current paper, by focusing on local domain IoT scenarios, such as multi-sensory Machine to Machine environments, discusses the challenges that ICN, particularly Interest-based solutions, impose to service discovery. This work proposes a service discovery mechanism for such scenarios, relying on an alternative forwarding pipeline for supporting its core operations. The proposed mechanism is validated through a proof-of-concept prototype, developed on top of the Named Data Networking ICN architecture, with results showcasing the benefits of our solution for discovering services within a collision domain. © 2017 Springer Science+Business Media New Yor

Inclusão e participação social em educação de infância

A inclusão em educação de infância pode ser definida como o conjunto de valores, políticas e práticas que apoiam o direito de cada criança e da sua família, independentemente das suas capacidades, a participar num vasto conjunto de atividades e contextos enquanto membros de pleno direito (DEC/ NAEYC, 2009). De acordo com esta definição, os resultados desejáveis das experiências inclusivas para crianças com e sem incapacidades, incluem um sentimento de pertença, relações sociais positivas e amizades, desenvolvimento e aprendizagem. Assim, podemos considerar que contextos de educação de infância de elevada qualidade são aqueles que permitem atingir estes objetivos, respondendo às necessidades de todas as crianças, de modo a que possam atingir todo o seu potencial.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio