Choosing the most effective pattern classification model under learning-time constraint

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Nowadays, large datasets are common and demand faster and more effective pattern analysis techniques. However, methodologies to compare classifiers usually do not take into account the learning-time constraints required by applications. This work presents a methodology to compare classifiers with respect to their ability to learn from classification errors on a large learning set, within a given time limit. Faster techniques may acquire more training samples, but only when they are more effective will they achieve higher performance on unseen testing sets. We demonstrate this result using several techniques, multiple datasets, and typical learning-time limits required by applications.Nowadays, large datasets are common and demand faster and more effective pattern analysis techniques. However, methodologies to compare classifiers usually do not take into account the learning-time constraints required by applications. This work presentsCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFUNDECT - FUNDAÇÃO DE APOIO AO DESENVOLVIMENTO DConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq [303182/2011-3, 477692/2012-5, 552559/2010-5, 481556/2009-5, 303673/2010-9, 470571/2013-6, 306166/2014-3, 311140/2014-9]CAPES [01-P-01965/2012]FAPESP [2011/14058-5, 2012/18768-0, 2007/52015-0, 2013/20387-7, 2014/16250-9]311140/2014-9; 303182/2011-3; 477692/2012-5; 552559/2010-5; 481556/2009-5; 303673/2010-9; 303182/2011-3; 470571/2013-6; 306166/2014-301-P-01965/20122011/14058-5, 2012/18768-0; 2007/52015-0; 2013/20387-7; 2014/16250-9sem informaçã

Association between diabetes and cognitive function at baseline in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA- Brasil)

Diabetes has been associated with cognitive changes and an increased risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but it is unclear whether there are associations between diabetes and early alterations in cognitive performance. The present study consisted of a cross-section analysis of 14,444 participants aged 35–74 years and from a developing country at baseline in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA–Brasil); these participants were recruited between 2008 and 2010. We investigated whether there was an association between diabetes and early changes in the cognitive performance of this Brazilian population. To assess cognitive domains, we used the word-list learning, word-list delayed recall and word recognition tests along. Phonemic verbal fuency tests included semantic phonemic test (animals) and a phonemic test (words beginning with the letter F). Executive functions associated with attention, concentration and psychomotor speed were evaluated using the Trail Making Test B. The exposure variable in the study was defned as diabetes. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the association between diabetes and cognitive performance. The results were adjusted for age, sex, education, hypertension, coronary disease, depression, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and the cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. We found a signifcant association between diabetes and decreased memory, language and executive function (attention, concentration and psychomotor speed) performance in this population from a country with a distinct epidemiological profle, even after adjusting for the main intervening variables

Prevalence, Clinical Staging and Risk for Blood-Borne Transmission of Chagas Disease among Latin American Migrants in Geneva, Switzerland

Chagas disease, a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a leading cause of cardiac and digestive tract disorders in Mexico, Central and South America. An increasing number of cases have recently been reported in North America and Europe due to international human migration, but data outside Latin America remains scarce. This study showed that Chagas disease is an emerging health problem in Switzerland, affecting a substantial proportion of Latin American migrants (13%). Persons at increased risk of infection were Bolivian, older than 35 years or had a mother infected with T. cruzi. Early signs of cardiac or digestive tract disease were found in one out of six infected patients. The risk of local transmission by blood transfusion or organ transplant was illustrated by the frequent willingness expressed by patients to donate blood or organs in Switzerland. The authors recommend the screening of persons at risk of infection and the diffusion of appropriate information to the medical community to increase awareness of this emerging health problem. Considering that affected persons frequently lack health insurance in Switzerland, a facilitated access to medical care is an important step towards better recognition and management of Chagas disease