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In recent years, educational data mining has emerged as a growing discipline focused on developing models for predicting academic performance. The primary objective of this research was to tune classification models to predict academic performance in secondary school. The dataset employed for this study encompassed information from 19,545 high school students. We used descriptive statistics to characterise information contained in personal, school, and socioeconomic variables. We implemented two data mining techniques, namely artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machines (SVM). Parameter optimisation was conducted through five–fold cross–validation, and model performance was assessed using accuracy and F 1 –Score. The results indicate a functional dependence between predictor variables and academic performance. The algorithms demonstrated an average performance exceeding 80% accuracy. Notably, ANN outperformed SVM in the dataset analysed. This type of methodology could help educational institutions to predict academic underachievement and thus generate strategies to improve students' academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibonacci patterns and tubular forms both arose early in the phylogeny of multicellular organisms. Tubular forms offer the advantage of a regulated internal milieu, and Fibonacci forms may offer packing efficiencies. The underlying mechanisms behind the cellular genesis of Fibonacci and tubular forms remain unknown. Methods: In a multicellular organism, cells adhere to form a macrostructure and to coordinate further replication. We propose and prove simple theorems connecting cell replication and adhesion to Fibonacci forms and simplicial topology. Results: We identify some cellular and molecular properties whereby the contact inhibition of replication by adhered cells may approximate Fibonacci growth patterns. We further identify how a component 2 → 3 cellular multiplication step may generate a multicellular structure with some properties of a two-simplex. Tracking the homotopy of a two-simplex to a circle and to a tube, we identify some molecular and cellular growth properties consistent with the morphogenesis of tubes. We further find that circular and tubular cellular aggregates may be combinatorially favored in multicellular adhesion over flat shapes. Conclusions: We propose a correspondence between the cellular and molecular mechanisms that generate Fibonacci cell counts and those that enable tubular forms. This implies molecular and cellular arrangements that are candidates for experimental testing and may provide guidance for the synthetic biology of hollow morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is an infection caused by the Plasmodium parasite that has a major epidemiological, social, and economic impact worldwide. Conventional diagnosis of the disease is based on microscopic examination of thick blood smears. This analysis can be time-consuming, which is key to generate prevention strategies and adequate treatment to avoid the complications associated with the disease. To address this problem, we propose a deep learning-based approach to detect not only malaria parasites but also leukocytes to perform parasite/ μ L blood count. We used positive and negative images with parasites and leukocytes. We performed data augmentation to increase the size of the dataset. The YOLOv8 algorithm was used for model training and using the counting formula the parasites were counted. The results showed the ability of the model to detect parasites and leukocytes with 95% and 98% accuracy, respectively. The time spent by the model to report parasitemia is significantly less than the time spent by malaria experts. This type of system would be supportive for areas with poor access to health care. We recommend validation of such approaches on a large scale in health institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue remains a globally prevalent and potentially fatal disease, affecting millions of people worldwide each year. Early and accurate detection of dengue complications is crucial to improving clinical outcomes and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. In this study, we explore the use of computational simulations based on fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) to improve the detection of dengue complications. We propose an innovative approach that integrates clinical data into a computational model that mimics the decision-making process of a medical expert. Our method uses FCMs to model complexity and uncertainty in dengue. The model was evaluated in simulated scenarios with each of the dengue classifications. These maps allow us to represent and process vague and fuzzy information effectively, capturing relationships that often go unnoticed in conventional approaches. The results of the simulations show the potential of our approach to detecting dengue complications. This innovative strategy has the potential to transform the way clinical management of dengue is approached. This research is a starting point for further development of complication detection approaches for events of public health concern, such as dengue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]