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The adequacy and efficacy of simple and hybrid machine learning and Computational Intelligence algorithms were evaluated for the classification of potential prostate cancer patients in two distinct categories, the high- and the low-risk group for PCa. The evaluation is based on randomly generated surrogate data for the biomarker PSA, considering that reported epidemiological data indicated that PSA values follow a lognormal distribution. In addition, four more biomarkers were considered, namely, PSAD (PSA density), PSAV (PSA velocity), PSA ratio, and Digital Rectal Exam evaluation (DRE), as well as patient age. Seven simple classification algorithms, namely, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Support Vector Machines, K-Nearest Neighbors, Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes, and Artificial Neural Networks, were evaluated in terms of classification accuracy. In addition, three hybrid algorithms were developed and introduced in the present work, where Genetic Algorithms were utilized as a metaheuristic searching technique in order to optimize the training set, in terms of minimizing its size, to give optimal classification accuracy for the simple algorithms including K-Nearest Neighbors, a K-means clustering algorithm, and a genetic clustering algorithm. Results indicated that prostate cancer cases can be classified with high accuracy, even by the use of small training sets, with sizes that could be even smaller than 30% of the dataset. Numerous computer experiments indicated that the proposed training set minimization does not cause overfitting of the hybrid algorithms. Finally, an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI) was implemented, incorporating all the evaluated algorithms and the decision-making procedure.

Based on the need for radiobiological databases, in this work, we mined experimental ionizing radiation data of human cells treated with X-rays, γ-rays, carbon ions, protons and α-particles, by manually searching the relevant literature in PubMed from 1980 until 2024. In order to calculate normal and tumor cell survival α and β coefficients of the linear quadratic (LQ) established model, as well as the initial values of the double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA, we used WebPlotDigitizer and Python programming language. We also produced complex DNA damage results through the fast Monte Carlo code MCDS in order to complete any missing data. The calculated α/β values are in good agreement with those valued reported in the literature, where α shows a relatively good association with linear energy transfer (LET), but not β. In general, a positive correlation between DSBs and LET was observed as far as the experimental values are concerned. Furthermore, we developed a biophysical prediction model by using machine learning, which showed a good performance for α, while it underscored LET as the most important feature for its prediction. In this study, we designed and developed the novel radiobiological ‘RadPhysBio’ database for the prediction of irradiated cell survival (α and β coefficients of the LQ model). The incorporation of machine learning and repair models increases the applicability of our results and the spectrum of potential users.

Epidemics and pandemics are a field of scientific research since ancient times. The intensity of the repeated phenomena demonstrates their cyclicality in time. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, confirmed observations made in previous disease outbreaks. Epidemics are mainly characterized by two factors: (a) the population dynamics and (b) the nature of the disease. This article uses continuous mathematical models, on the basis of a scalable compartmental approach, characterized by systems of ordinary differential equations under the condition that individuals can freely move from one compartment to another. Numerous experiments were carried out to examine the impact of quarantine and vaccination policies, separately or in combination, on cumulative viral load, a measure adopted to reflect the cumulative viral burden of an infected population for a given time period. Current findings demonstrate that quarantine may play a crucial role in controlling an epidemic at its early stages, as well as the importance of early and widespread implementation of a vaccination program. The suggested approach may be utilized to study specific quarantine and vaccination scenarios, by manipulating various parameters such as the duration and extent of social distancing measures or the effectiveness and compliance to vaccination policies, and thus assist in decision making.

MEG data for five cerebral palsy patients were taken using a whole-head 122-channel MEG system. An experiment was designed to identify the possible effect of external pico-Tesla weak magnetic fields. The subjects were five male volunteers 17-46 years of age. External stimulation, field amplitude 1-7.5 pico-Tesla, was applied to each subject at their alpha-rhythm frequency. Fast Fourier transforms were applied to the data of all MEG channels and the rhythms of the patients were evaluated before and after pico-Tesla transcranial magnetic stimulation. The appliance of pico-Tesla weak magnetic fields showed the brains of the cerebral palsy patients had an enhance of the frequencies of (2-7 Hz) for each patient. This was followed by an improvement and normalization of their MEG. The results had a statistical significance in four out of five subjects (80%) and suggested the stimulation provided a positive contribution to the management of the symptoms of cerebral palsy patients.

Backround and Objectives: Alternative, non-invasive, and non-pharmaceutical options are gaining place in the battle of Alzheimer’s Disease treatment control. Lately, the magnetic stimulation of the brain is the most prevalent technique with encouraging results. The aim of this study is to establish any possible change on the Primary Dominant Frequencies (PDF) (range 2–7 Hz) of the affected brain regions in Alzheimer Disease (AD) patients after applying extremely weak Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, all AD patients were scanned with the use of MagnetoEncephaloGraphy (MEG) recordings through a whole-head 122–channel MEG system. Results: Our results exerted statistically significant PDF changes due to weak TMS accompanied by rabid attenuation of clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Thus, this is the first time that a positive therapeutic effect is being demonstrated even at pico-Tesla range magnetic fields in a small clinical group of studies for AD.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is the recording of the magnetic field produced by the flowing of ions in the brain. This article reports our experience in the application of MEG in patients and healthy volunteers in the Greek population. We provide a brief description of our research work. The MEG data were recorded in a magnetically shielded room with a whole-head 122 channel or an one-channel biomagnetometer. Our results lead us to believe that the MEG is an important research field which is evolving quickly with a number of interesting findings with respect to normal and abnormal functions of the human brain. It could provide clinical practice with an easy to perform non invasive method, which could be adjunct to conventional methods for the evaluation of brain disorders.

Microwave diathermy (MWD) is a therapeutic system that has been in use for some decades now in all physiotherapy settings, following the regulations of national facility establishments. The validity of diathermy devices is probably reduced as their working time increases, introducing the need for the device to be controlled/reset by qualified personnel in order to maintain its effectiveness in sessions and to accurately deliver the energy output that the physiotherapist asks for. However, while MWD has been a vital tool for practising physiotherapists, there is no clear evidence of a health burden due to incorrect usability. Additionally, due to the fact that physiotherapy rooms contain physiotherapeutic equipment it is observed that during the use of the diathermy device there is spatial heterogeneity in the interior space. In this work, the results are presented of the first national survey for quality control of MWD systems installed in physiotherapy rooms existing in urban and rural areas in Greece. Serious concerns about the technical status of the equipment as well as staff and patient safety, regarding the levels of non-ionising radiation emitted from MWD devices, are discussed. Additional evaluation is included of measurements in empty physiotherapy rooms while the MWD unit is transmitting at three different input powers (50 W/100 W/150 W—these are the therapeutic protocols used most frequently by physiotherapists) and in fully equipped physiotherapy rooms. Field strengths measured around MWDs normally working at different angles, distances and times compared to international limits revealed great spatial and time heterogeneity, raising serious concerns about the safety of occupational workers or other patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]