Abstract

Abstract
To get the most out of powerful tools, expert knowledge is often required. Experts are the ones with the suitable knowledge to tune the tools' parameters. In this paper we assess several techniques which can automatically fine-tune ANN parameters. Those techniques include the use of GA and stratified sampling. The fine-tuning includes the choice of the best ANN structure and the best network biases and their weights. Empirical results achieved in experiments performed using nine heterogeneous data sets show that the use of the proposed Stratified Sampling technique is advantageous. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Abstract
This paper presents a hybrid behaviour process for performing collaborative tasks and coordination capabilities in a rescue team. RoboCup Rescue simulator and its associated international competition are used as the testbed for our proposal. Unlike other published work in this field one of our main concerns is having good results on RoboCup Rescue championships by emerging behaviour in agents using a biological paradigm. The benefit comes from the hierarchic and parallel organisation of the mammalian brain. In our behaviour process, Artificial Neural Networks are used in order to make agents capable of learning information from the environment. This allows agents to improve several algorithms like their Path Finding Algorithm to find the shortest path between two points. Also, we aim to filter the most important messages that arise from the environment, to make the right choice on the best path planning among many alternatives, in a short time. A policy action was implemented using Kohonen's network, Dijkstra's and D* algorithm. This policy has achieved good results in our tests, getting our team classified for RoboCup Rescue Simulation League 2005.

Abstract

Abstract
This paper presents the user friendly features of a Web site for Multi-Relational Data Mining (MRDM) problems in Molecular Biology and Drug Design. The purpose of the Web site is to allow any non expert in MRDM to perform a data analysis task using an Inductive Logic Programming (ILP) system without any knowledge of the workings of such systems. With that aim, the site provides an extensive library of predicates for the user to construct in an easy way the required data set's background knowledge. The set of predicates is automatically extended, using web-services technology, by searching, in a user transparent way, web sites of other research groups implementing the same Web site architecture. The site also implements a module that allows the user to execute a series of data analysis experiments without any knowledge of the ILP system's parameters and the Prolog encoding of the induced models. Prolog models are translated to English before being shown to the user and an interface, using a set of menus expressing "qualitative options", allows the user to control the updating of the induced models. The Web site has, so far, received positive feedback from the chemist elements of the project team in a drug design problem were we have applied it. © 2011 IADIS.

Abstract
CT-guide Percutaneous Transthoracic Biopsies (PTB) performed in the Radiology Department of Garcia de Orta Hospital between 2002 and 2004 to evaluate undetermined pulmonary lesions were retrospectively analysed. 89 fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) and 13 core needle biopsies (CNB) were performed on 92 patients (67 men, mean age: 64.4 years). 82 lesions (89%) were nodular lesions (mean diameter: 3.8±1.7 cm, 65 peripheral). We did not observe complications among patients who underwent CNB; minor complications and pneumothorax requiring drainage occurred in 11 FNAB. 72 FNAB were considered adequate for cytology diagnosis; 72% of them positive for malignancy. All CNB were adequate and conclusive. From the 7 CNB performed on patients with previous FNAB, 3 allowed a better histological characterization and in 3 cases of inadequate FNAB, CNB was conclusive. All malignant lesions were nodules: 20 adenocarcinoma, 13 non-small cell lung cancer (SCLC), 10 epidermoid tumours, 5 small-cell lung cancer, 2 carcinoids, 1 bronchiolo alveolar carcinoma, 1 malignant mesothelioma and 8 metastasis. Unspecific/ inflammatory lesions (n=5) were the most frequent benign lesions. Malignant lesions were more prevalent in older patients (p=0.007) and were larger (p=0.006). Spiculated and lobulated contour (p=0.05) were more prevalent in malignant lesions while regular contour was more frequent among benign lesions (p=0.0001). Gender, smoking, location, pleural tag, homogenous attenuation, cavitation, calcification, necrosis and air bronchogram did not differ significantly between benign and malignant nodules. This study shows that CT-guided PTB is a safe and effective procedure in the evaluation of undetermined pulmonary lesions.