Technological innovations in the hardware of RGB-D sensors have allowed the acquisition of 3D point clouds in real time. Consequently, various applications have arisen related to the 3D world, which are receiving increasing attention from researchers. Nevertheless, one of the main problems that remains is the demand for computationally intensive processing that required optimized approaches to deal with 3D vision modeling, especially when it is necessary to perform tasks in real time. A previously proposed multi-resolution 3D model known as foveated point clouds can be a possible solution to this problem. Nevertheless, this is a model limited to a single foveated structure with context dependent mobility. In this work, we propose a new solution for data reduction and feature detection using multifoveation in the point cloud. Nonetheless, the application of several foveated structures results in a considerable increase of processing since there are intersections between regions of distinct structures, which are processed multiple times. Towards solving this problem, the current proposal brings an approach that avoids the processing of redundant regions, which results in even more reduced processing time. Such approach can be used to identify objects in 3D point clouds, one of the key tasks for real-time applications as robotics vision, with efficient synchronization allowing the validation of the model and verification of its applicability in the context of computer vision. Experimental results demonstrate a performance gain of at least 27.21% in processing time while retaining the main features of the original, and maintaining the recognition quality rate in comparison with state-of-the-art 3D object recognition methods.

In bioinformatics, alignment is an essential technique for finding similarities between biological sequences. Usually, the alignment is performed with the Smith-Waterman (SW) algorithm, a well-known sequence alignment technique of high-level precision based on dynamic programming. However, given the massive data volume in biological databases and their continuous exponential increase, high-speed data processing is necessary. Therefore, this work proposes a parallel hardware design for the SW algorithm with a systolic array structure to accelerate the forward and backtracking steps. For this purpose, the architecture calculates and stores the paths in the forward stage for pre-organizing the alignment, which reduces the complexity of the backtracking stage. The backtracking starts from the maximum score position in the matrix and generates the optimal SW sequence alignment path. The architecture was validated on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and synthesis analyses have shown that the proposed design reaches up to 79.5 Giga Cell Updates per Second (GCPUS).

Nano-hybrid formulations combine organic and inorganic materials in self-assembled platforms for drug delivery. Laponite is a synthetic clay, biocompatible, and a guest of compounds. Poloxamines are amphiphilic four-armed compounds and have pH-sensitive and thermosensitive properties. The association of Laponite and Poloxamine can be used to improve attachment to drugs and to increase the solubility of β-Lapachone (β-Lap). β-Lap has antiviral, antiparasitic, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the low water solubility of β-Lap limits its clinical and medical applications. All samples were prepared by mixing Tetronic 1304 and LAP in a range of 1–20% (w/w) and 0–3% (w/w), respectively. The β-Lap solubility was analyzed by UV-vis spectrophotometry, and physical behavior was evaluated across a range of temperatures. The analysis of data consisted of response surface methodology (RMS), and two kinds of machine learning (ML): multilayer perceptron (MLP) and support vector machine (SVM). The ML techniques, generated from a training process based on experimental data, obtained the best correlation coefficient adjustment for drug solubility and adequate physical classifications of the systems. The SVM method presented the best fit results of β-Lap solubilization. In silico tools promoted fine-tuning, and near-experimental data show β-Lap solubility and classification of physical behavior to be an excellent strategy for use in developing new nano-hybrid platforms.

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Nano-hybrid systems are products of interactions between organic and inorganic materials designed and planned to develop drug delivery platforms that can be self-assembled. Poloxamine, commercially available as Tetronic®, is formed by blocks of copolymers consisting of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly (propylene oxide) (PPO) units arranged in a four-armed star shape. Structurally, Tetronics are similar to Pluronics®, with an additional feature as they are also pH-dependent due to their central ethylenediamine unit. Laponite is a synthetic clay arranged in the form of discs with a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a thickness of 1 nm. Both compounds are biocompatible and considered as candidates for the formation of carrier systems. The objective is to explore associations between a Tetronic (T1304) and LAP (Laponite) at concentrations of 1–20% (w/w) and 0–3% (w/w), respectively. Response surface methodology (RMS) and two types of machine learning (multilayer perceptron (MLP) and support vector machine (SVM)) were used to evaluate the physical behavior of the systems and the β-Lapachone (β-Lap) solubility in the systems. β-Lap (model drug with low solubility in water) has antiviral, antiparasitic, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. The results show an adequate machine learning approach to predict the physical behavior of nanocarrier systems with and without the presence of LAP. Additionally, the analysis performed with SVM showed better results (R2 > 0.97) in terms of data adjustment in the evaluation of β-Lap solubility. Furthermore, this work presents a new methodology for classifying phase behavior using ML. The new methodology allows the creation of a phase behavior surface for different concentrations of T1304 and LAP at different pHs and temperatures. The machine learning strategies used were excellent in assisting in the optimized development of new nano-hybrid platforms.