Social-spider optimization-based artificial neural networks training and its applications for Parkinson's disease identification

Evolutionary algorithms have been widely used for Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) training, being the idea to update the neurons' weights using social dynamics of living organisms in order to decrease the classification error. In this paper, we have introduced Social-Spider Optimization to improve the training phase of ANN with Multilayer perceptrons, and we validated the proposed approach in the context of Parkinson's Disease recognition. The experimental section has been carried out against with five other well-known meta-heuristics techniques, and it has shown SSO can be a suitable approach for ANN-MLP training step.

Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan Nanoparticles for Zidovudine Nasal Delivery

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

An Informatics Technical Note on Interaction of DNA - Graphene Chemical Sensor System as Reaction-Diffusion Wave-Based Computing System in Ionised Gaseous environments and their Applications Using Theoretical Studies and Scientific Computation Overview

The physics of plasmas encompasses basic problems from the universe and has assured us of promises in diverse applications to be implemented in a wider range of scientific and engineering domains, linked to most of the evolved and evolving fundamental problems. Substantial part of this domain could be described by R–D mechanisms involving two or more species (reaction–diffusion mechanisms). These could further account for the simultaneous non-linear effects of heating, diffusion and other related losses. We mention here that in laboratory scale experiments, a suitable combination of these processes is of vital importance and very much decisive to investigate and compute the net behaviour of plasmas under consideration. Plasmas are being used in the revolution of information processing, so we considered in this technical note a simple framework to discuss and pave the way for better formalisms and Informatics, dealing with diverse domains of science and technologies. The challenging and fascinating aspects of plasma physics is that it requires a great deal of insight in formulating the relevant design problems, which in turn require ingenuity and flexibility in choosing a particular set of mathematical (and/or experimental) tools to implement them.

Interactions between restorative dentistry and periodontics: preparation and cementation of an onlay in Empress (Part III)

The relentless pursuit by cosmetic dentistry brought the evolution of materials ceramics. The IPS-Empress system was upgrading of indirect restorations based on lithium disilicate. The ceramic restoration posterior allow a new esthetic approach due to its translucency and resistance without any weakening of the remaining dental element, being an option more conservative when compared to conventional prosthetic restorations.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): methodological aspects and clinical applications

The clinical use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is based on the increase in the concentration of growth factors and in the secretion of proteins which are able to maximize the healing process at the cellular level. Since PRP is an autologous biologic material, it involves a minimum risk of immune reactions and transmission of infectious and contagious diseases, and it has been widely used for the recovery of musculoskeletal lesions. Despite the great potential for applicability, the implementation of the therapeutic employment of PRP as a clinical alternative has become difficult, due to the lack of studies related to the standardization of the techniques and/or insufficient description of the adopted procedures. Therefore, it is required establish standard criteria to be followed for obtaining a PRP of high quality, as well as a larger number of studies which should establish the proper concentration of platelets for the different clinical conditions. In this context, the purpose of this review is to discuss some methodological aspects used for achieving the PRP, as well as to discuss the bioactive properties of PRP, and to point out its therapeutic use in different fields of regenerative medicine.

Marine-derived fungi: diversity of enzymes and biotechnological applications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Production of exopolysaccharide from rhizobia with potential biotechnological and bioremediation applications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Polyacrylic acid polymers hydrogels intended to topical drug delivery: preparation and characterization

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Direct preparation and characterization of copper pentacyanonitrosylferrate nanoparticles

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Transparent organic-inorganic nanocomposites membranes based on carboxymethylcellulose and synthetic clay

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Poly(3-octylthiophene)/stearic acid langmuir and langmuir-blodgett films: preparation and characterization

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Preparation and thermal decomposition of solid state cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc chelates of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Solid state chelates of general formula H-2[M(EDTA)] . nH2O, where M is Co, Ni, Cu or Zn, and EDTA is ethylenediaminetetraacetate, were prepared. Thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry (TG-DTG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and complexometry were used to characterize and to study the thermal stability and thermal decomposition of these compounds.

Preparation and thermal decomposition of solid state lanthanide(III) and yttrium(III) chelates of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Solid state chelates of general formula H[Ln(EDTA)] · nH2O (Ln = trivalent lanthanide (except for promethium) or yttrium; EDTA = ethylenediaminetetraacetate) were prepared. Thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction and complexometry were used to characterize and study the thermal stability and thermal decomposition of these compounds. © 1993.

Preparation and characterization of monomodal grapevine virus a capsid protein

Grapevine virus A (GVA), a flexible filament of approximately 800 nm in length is composed of capsid subunits that spontaneously assembles around a positive sense genomic RNA. In addition to encapsidation, plant viruses capsid proteins (CPs) participate in other processes throughout infection and GVA CP is involved in cell-to-cell translocation of the virus. A protocol was developed to obtain low-molecular weight GVA-CP that is not prone to aggregation and spontaneous assembly and this was characterized by circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering. These results indicate the suitably of GVA-CP for X-ray crystallographic and NMR studies that should lead to the elucidation of the first three-dimensional structure of a flexible filamentous virus from the Betaflexiviridae family.

Preparation and characterization of a bacterial cellulose/silk fibroin sponge scaffold for tissue regeneration

Bacterial cellulose (BC) and silk fibroin (SF) are natural biopolymers successfully applied in tissue engineering and biomedical fields. In this work nanocomposites based on BC and SF were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, the investigation of cytocompatibility was done by MTT, XTT and Trypan Blue dye technique. Cellular adhesion and proliferation were detected additionally. The evaluation of genotoxicity was realized by micronucleus assay. In vitro tests showed that the material is non-cytotoxic or genotoxic. SEM images revealed a greater number of cells attached at the BC/SF:50% scaffold surface than the pure BC one, suggesting that the presence of fibroin improved cell attachment. This could be related to the SF amino acid sequence that acts as cell receptors facilitating cell adhesion and growth. Consequently, BC/SF:50% scaffolds configured an excellent option in bioengineering depicting its potential for tissue regeneration and cultivation of cells on nanocomposites.